Seven Oaks & Ross House Museum

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Detailed text about dining room goes here

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Moccasin

This style of pointed-toe moccasin was worn by almost everyone in the early days of the Red River Settlement. This style of shoe was made by Metis, Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) and Ininew (Cree) women for their families, and for trade.

This style of tall moccasin was made for walking outdoors, almost like hiking boots. Other styles that look like slippers would have been made to wear to dances or around the house.

Modern reproduction using antique beads.

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Moccasin

Though we have plenty of beautify and intricately decorated moccasins, we chose to display this plain and well-loved moccasin for two reasons: the first being conservation reasons, as light can damage artifacts when displayed without proper protection, and the second being that with this moccasin allows you to see how moccasins in this period were constructed in Red River.

These old moccasins were once decorated with purple and red quillwork made from hand-dyed and processed porcupine needles. The quillwork was trimmed with delicate dyed horse-hair piping. Both the quills and the horse hair have long-since deteriorated, damaged either by light, insects or animals, or by improper handling or storage.

This moccasin was made of traditional "brain tanned" leather and sewn using sinew, a thread-like product produced from the tendons of animals like deer or bison. When compared to the leather of the modern moccasin above, the differences are stark with the tannin found in the brain giving this leather a suede-like texture and a muted colour. 

c. unknown

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Sewing Matierials

Sinew, quills, and glass beads:
Before thread was readily available in the Red River Settlement, sinew, an animal product made from dried and stretched animal tendons, was used to sew together both utilitarian items and beautiful works of art featuring beadwork and quillwork. 


​c. modern 

Eyeglasses:
People sometimes needed a bit of extra help seeing the tiny details of sewing work. These eyeglasses have g
old-coloured oval frames and clear glass lenses.


c. late 19th century

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needle case

Beaded needle case:

​This English needle case is made of wood and wrapped with tiny seed beads on wires. The same beads were used here in a very different way for Métis beadwork.


c. mid-19th century

"Trade" beads:
Glass beads like these were made in France and Italy, and imported in large quantities for trade by the Hudson's Bay Company.


c. early 19th century

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scissors

Embroidery scissors: 
Ornate iron scissors made in England for needlework.

c. late 19th century
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Large scissors: 
These heavy iron scissors were made for cutting fabric to make clothing. They were owned by Mary Sinclair Inkster.

​c. late 19th century
Seven Oaks House Museum & Ross House Museum sit on Treaty One land:
​The traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg and Ininíwak, the land of the Dakota and the homeland of the Red River Métis.

Contact us:

Eric Napier Strong - Curator / Manager

Seven Oaks House Museum

204-339-7429
SOHMuseum@gmail.com
50 Mac Street, Winnipeg, MB

​Ross House Museum

204-942-5396
RHouseMuseum@gmail.com
140 Meade Street North, Winnipeg, MB

Operated with support from

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  • Seven Oaks House Museum
    • Visiting Information
    • Events >
      • Past Events
    • School Programs
    • Rentals
    • History >
      • John & Mary
      • Children
      • George T Inkster
      • Nahovway & Colin
      • An Enduring Legacy
      • Changing Times
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • Our Mission
  • Ross House Museum
    • Visiting Information
    • Events
    • History >
      • Artifact Gallery
      • The Ross Family >
        • Jemima McKenzie Ross
    • Volunteer
    • Our Mission
  • Learning
    • Self-Guided Tours
    • Video Tours
    • Winnipeg 1884: Finding the Past in Our Present >
      • Residence of Hon. A.G.B. Bannatyne
      • St. John's College
      • St. John's College Ladies School
      • Hudson's Bay Land Office
      • Hudson's Bay Co. Store
      • Woods & Ovens Biscuit Manufactory
      • Grand Pacific Hotel
      • Manitoba Free Press
      • M. Keachie's Palace Stables
      • J.H. Ashdown Hardware
      • Redwood Brewery
      • Ryan's Boot & Shoe Store
      • Manitoba College
      • St. Mary's Academy
      • St. Boniface Boys College
      • St. Boniface Cathedral
      • Episcopal Palace, St. Boniface
      • Ladies College, St. Boniface
  • Gathering
    • Contemporary Artists
  • Employment Opportunities