Wooden frame snowshoes with two crossbars, rawhide latticework and straps; both curve upwards slightly at the front.

Oval shape with upturned fronts. Twisted and interlaced skin. The harness to hold boots is of braided twine.

Pair of leaf-shaped, light brown wooden snowshoes; one end is rounded and sharply upturned while the other tapers gently to an extended point. Three wooden crossbars separate the rawhide latticework into three main sections, with a mesh-like pattern at the two ends and open, rectangular grid-like strapping in the centre. Tufts of red fabric and bristly white hair are tied along the centre of the front and back panels.

Pair of snowshoes (parts a-b) made of wooden frames with two curved crossbars. Babiche latticework between the frame and crossbars; latticework reinforced with plastic ties along frame. Shoes are rounded before tapering at the ends; shoes are flat. The frame consists of one piece of wood that has been bent into shape; ends are secured with nails below the front crossbar. Middle section of latticework is woven wider than front and back sections. Oval-shaped gaps in weave, underneath front crossbar, for feet; skin ties secured to sides of gaps. Decorative tufts of light blue, orange and dark purple wool are attached along the outer edges of frames, on front and back ends. Grooves cut into frame above wool decoration. The longer snowshoe (part b) has a knotted cord tied around the frame above the front crossbar, along the left side.

« Two styles of netted snowshoes are represented in the Speck collection by a single pair each. Both pairs have birchwood frames and babiche netting. One pair, from Kiskisink, is constructed in the "swallow tail" style (Davidson, 1937, pp. 67-68, fig. 27c) in which the ends of the frame form a tail. Although Davidson describes this style in his chapter on snowshoes with two-piece frames, this specimen has a frame consisting of a single piece of wood, the ends of which are lashed together with babiche at the tail. There are two slightly curved cross bars which are morticed into the frame. The harnesses are made of clothes line and the wearer's heel rested on a rectangular piece of tanned caribou skin which is folded over the opening and sewn into the netting. One shoe has a large area of broken netting in the center which has been repaired with twine (fig. 31a). According to Rogers (1967, pp. 91-92), swallow-tail snowshoes were used by the Mistassini at the time of his fieldwork in the early 1950s and were worn by both men and women. Men used them during November and December and again in the spring when the snow was heavy. During mid-winter they were used by men only on well-packed trails. Women used them all winter. The snowshoes of this type that Rogers describes had a one-piece frame like the pair in the Speck collection. According to Speck's notes, the swallow-tail style was the typical form among eastern Montagnais bands. » 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.18, fig 31a (p.59). « The manufacture of snowshoes among the Lake St. John and Mistassini Indians has been described in considerable detail by Lips (1947, pp. 69-77) and Rogers (1967, pp. 91-101). » 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.18.

Pair of snowshoes with wooden frames and sinew strung. These snowshoes are broad and fairly rounded, but have flattened off ends. The sinew is very brittle, and B) has ripped at the top edge. There are geometric patterns woven into the sinew. Thetapering ends at the back are bolted together with pieces of copper and iron. The words DUP.BM are written in pencil on centre bar.; Good

Pair of snowshoes, with wooden frames and sinew strung. The fronts of the snowshoes are flattened off, and there are two wooden cross bars which divide the snowshoes into three sinew strung sections. Similar to Z 44993 in shape but has woollen ends outside frame where sinew is attached.; Good

Pair of snowshoes, with wooden frames and sinew strung. The fronts of the snowshoes are flattened off, and have three leather tufts, there are two wooden cross bars which divide the snowshoes into three sinew strung sections.Similar to Z 44994 inshape but no woollen ends to sinews.; Good