« Before the acquisition of breech-loading firearms, the Montagnais-Naskapi, like other Indians, used muzzle-loading percussion guns. These required the carrying of shot pouches, of which there are are five in the Speck collection. The size of the shot pouch was determined by the size of a hunter's fist, since he would be reaching in for a hand-full of shot (Speck, 1935, p. 213). Two pouches, both of which appear to have seen considerable use, are made of black wool felt, the seams being bound with cotton tape. Buttons are provided to fasten the flaps. One pouch, from Kiskisink, has a shoulder strap of the same material as the pouch (fig. 20b) [...]. » 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.11, fig 20b (p.48). « Speck (1935, pp. 213-215) notes that the period during which shot pouches were used most extensively corresponded with the availability, at posts of the Hudson's Bay Company, of beads and a variety of cloth fabric of different colors. Thus the pouches, which were made by women, became one of the most important vehicles for Montagnais artistic expression. As with other decorated objects made and used by these Indians, the designs on shot pouches served as the means by which the spirits of individual owners achieved control over game animals. » 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.11.

« Before the acquisition of breech-loading firearms, the Montagnais-Naskapi, like other Indians, used muzzle-loading percussion guns. These required the carrying of shot pouches, of which there are are five in the Speck collection. The size of the shot pouch was determined by the size of a hunter's fist, since he would be reaching in for a hand-full of shot (Speck, 1935, p. 213). » 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.11. « The fifth pouch is somewhat different, being made of heavy wool felt with seams bound with red cotton tape. On the inner edge of the binding are two rows of purple silk-wrapped cording. Instead of a shoulder strap, there are two loops for attachment to a belt. On the front is a floral design in red, white, blue, and green seed beads (fig. 20a). » « Speck (1935, pp. 213-215) notes that the period during which shot pouches were used most extensively corresponded with the availability, at posts of the Hudson's Bay Company, of beads and a variety of cloth fabric of different colors. Thus the pouches, which were made by women, became one of the most important vehicles for Montagnais artistic expression. As with other decorated objects made and used by these Indians, the designs on shot pouches served as the means by which the spirits of individual owners achieved control over game animals. » 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.11. « Speck (1935, pp. 190-191) has noted that for the Montagnais, the symbolic pictorial representation of a plant or animal was equivalent to the actual plant or animal and those portrayed were believed to come under the control of the individual human spirit. Dreams played a major part in suggesting the relationship between specific animals or plants and an individual. The spirit was strengthened by having its dream promptings obeyed and success in subsistence activities was thereby assured. » 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.10.

« Before the acquisition of breech-loading firearms, the Montagnais-Naskapi, like other Indians, used muzzle-loading percussion guns. These required the carrying of shot pouches, of which there are are five in the Speck collection. The size of the shot pouch was determined by the size of a hunter's fist, since he would be reaching in for a hand-full of shot (Speck, 1935, p. 213). » 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.11. « Two pouches, both of which appear to have seen considerable use, are made of black wool felt, the seams being bound with cotton tape. Buttons are provided to fasten the flaps. One pouch, from Kiskisink, has a shoulder strap of the same material as the pouch (fig. 20b), while the strap on the second is made of moose skin. This pouch has a smaller pouch sewn to the front just below the flap, which was probably intended for percussion caps (fig. 21b). » 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.11, fig 21b (p.49). « Speck (1935, pp. 213-215) notes that the period during which shot pouches were used most extensively corresponded with the availability, at posts of the Hudson's Bay Company, of beads and a variety of cloth fabric of different colors. Thus the pouches, which were made by women, became one of the most important vehicles for Montagnais artistic expression. As with other decorated objects made and used by these Indians, the designs on shot pouches served as the means by which the spirits of individual owners achieved control over game animals. » 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.11.

« Before the acquisition of breech-loading firearms, the Montagnais-Naskapi, like other Indians, used muzzle-loading percussion guns. These required the carrying of shot pouches, of which there are are five in the Speck collection. The size of the shot pouch was determined by the size of a hunter's fist, since he would be reaching in for a hand-full of shot (Speck, 1935, p. 213).» 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.11. « Another pouch of black felt has edges bound with red and white striped cotton tape. Along the lower edge of the flap is a row of red, yellow, white, and blue seed beads. Below the flap is a crude beaded floral design utilizing beads of the same colors. The strap, which is short, is made from a narrow strip of moose skin (fig. 21c). » 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.11, fig 21c (p.49). « Speck (1935, pp. 213-215) notes that the period during which shot pouches were used most extensively corresponded with the availability, at posts of the Hudson's Bay Company, of beads and a variety of cloth fabric of different colors. Thus the pouches, which were made by women, became one of the most important vehicles for Montagnais artistic expression. As with other decorated objects made and used by these Indians, the designs on shot pouches served as the means by which the spirits of individual owners achieved control over game animals. » 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.11. « Speck (1935, pp. 190-191) has noted that for the Montagnais, the symbolic pictorial representation of a plant or animal was equivalent to the actual plant or animal and those portrayed were believed to come under the control of the individual human spirit. Dreams played a major part in suggesting the relationship between specific animals or plants and an individual. The spirit was strengthened by having its dream promptings obeyed and success in subsistence activities was thereby assured. » 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.10.

« Before the acquisition of breech-loading firearms, the Montagnais-Naskapi, like other Indians, used muzzle-loading percussion guns. These required the carrying of shot pouches, of which there are are five in the Speck collection. The size of the shot pouch was determined by the size of a hunter's fist, since he would be reaching in for a hand-full of shot (Speck, 1935, p. 213). » 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.11. « Another pouch of black felt has edges bound with red and white striped cotton tape. Along the lower edge of the flap is a row of red, yellow, white, and blue seed beads. Below the flap is a crude beaded floral design utilizing beads of the same colors. The strap, which is short, is made from a narrow strip of moose skin (fig. 21c). » 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.11, fig 21c (p.49). « Speck (1935, pp. 213-215) notes that the period during which shot pouches were used most extensively corresponded with the availability, at posts of the Hudson's Bay Company, of beads and a variety of cloth fabric of different colors. Thus the pouches, which were made by women, became one of the most important vehicles for Montagnais artistic expression. As with other decorated objects made and used by these Indians, the designs on shot pouches served as the means by which the spirits of individual owners achieved control over game animals. » 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.11. « Speck (1935, pp. 190-191) has noted that for the Montagnais, the symbolic pictorial representation of a plant or animal was equivalent to the actual plant or animal and those portrayed were believed to come under the control of the individual human spirit. Dreams played a major part in suggesting the relationship between specific animals or plants and an individual. The spirit was strengthened by having its dream promptings obeyed and success in subsistence activities was thereby assured. » 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.10.

Decorated bags similar to this in size are sometimes referred to as "firebags" or "shot pouches" because they often held tobacco, flint and steel or a piece of touchwood for starting fires. This hide pouch combines elements of floral design and geometric patterns. Only one side of the pouch is decorated. The top of the pouch is quill embroidered with three simple foliate forms that contain alternating stems from which emerge bi-lobed leaves. The three plants grow from a crescent shape, a shape that may be read as a seed pod. Two quill woven strips that contain geometric forms are attached to the pouch. Both of these strips have white grounds with four major design elements on each, interspersed with small triangles and crosses. The top strip starts at the left with an eight-pointed star which is red at the center, then outlined in white on a brown field, outlined in turn in pink and the outer edge bordered in blue. The second element is also eight-pointed, as if a square and diamond are combined. At its center, a brown rectangle is surrounded by a larger rectangle of orange and red, then a white border, a blue border, then a pink border with projections at right and left, still another blue border, a white border, and finally, a brown border as the outer edge of the same form. The third element design is the same as the second and the fourth form is the same as the first. On the second, woven loomed quill strip, the first form on the left is an eight-pointed star with a brown and red checkered rectangle at center, surrounded by a white border on a blue field, surrounded in turn by a pink border, and then finally outlined in brown. The second form is irregular and may be described as a vertically oriented rectangle with a pronounced point emerging at right and left. At the center is a reddish strip, bordered and crossed horizontally in white, on a brown field that is surrounded by a blue border, then a pink border, a brown one, a white one, and then a final blue outline. The third element is the same as the second and the fourth is the same as the first. See supplemental Jarvis file in Arts of Americas' office.