Robe made up of many horizontal strips of cloth sewn together into a single piece of fabric. This is folded and sewn to create a tube-like garment. Weave is tight, fabric is thick, with a blue and white checker pattern overall, decorated with flower motifs at the edges. At middle is an area of high patterning, showing diamond shapes and wavy lines set in strips. At each end of the robe is an attached set of twisted tassels.

« The manufacture of woven hare skin blankets by Indians of the Mistassini and Lake St. John bands is described in detail by Speck (1930, pp. 451-454), Lips (1947, pp. 42, 44), and Rogers (1967, p. 64, fig. 8, p. 40). Speck (1930, p. 454) notes that 100 skins were required for a blanket, while Rogers (1967, p. 64) states that a large blanket to be used by three people might comprise twice that many skins. These blankets were woven of narrow, twisted strips of hare skin on a three-pole frame by a coil netting technique in which the strip of skin was conveyed by a wooden or bone needle. The Speck collection contains two examples. The smaller, in poor condition, measures approximately 165 by 145 cm. The larger measures 220 by 152 cm and has short cloth ties at the four corners. It may have been worn as a robe. » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.17.

Women's robe. Black garment is long with an A-line shape through torso toward hem. Garment is open at front, with high slits in the skirt on both sides. It closes by a fabric string that wraps around a fabric ball located on the collar. Collar is made of several patches of fabric sewn together, including one patch with light blue pin stripping. Sleeves are wide, and increase in width toward the cuffs, which are sewn closed but for a small opening at top for the hands. Opening is protected from tearing by reinforced stitching below hole, as are the arm holes.

Museum Purchase: Funds given in memory of Virginia Waterman.

Museum Purchase: Funds Provided by Native American Council and Native American Acquisitions Fund.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.