Fort La Reine Museum

2652 Saskatchewan Ave E, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3Z9
fortlareinemuseum.com
Watch Pocket

nîhithaw/nehiyawak/Métis; Western Canada

c.1880
Deer hide, glass seed beads, cotton thread

Tiny pouches like these were made to hold pocket watches, and could be attached to the buttons on a vest.
Regalia Cuffs

Anishinaabe/ininiwak/nehethowuk/nîhithaw; Manitoba or Saskatchewan

c. 1920
Cotton, glass seed beads, thread

By the early 1900s, people and regional artistic traditions had been spread widely across Western Canada. New types of beads were introduced, and modern beadwork styles developed that draw from many traditions. It becomes much more difficult to locate specific regions and cultural groups.

Heavily-beaded, glittering cuffs like this are probably part of regalia or a dance outfit.
Children's Moccasins
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inininwak/nehethowuk/Métis; Manitoba or Saskatchewan

c.1920-1940
Moose hide, deer or caribou hide, glass seed beads, cotton thread

Notice how the traditional wrapped thread or horsehair piping has been replaced with an embroidery stitch: A much faster way to decorate and cover the seam line.
Moccasins

Anishinaabe/inininwak/nehethowuk/Métis; Manitoba, Saskatchewan or North-midwestern US

c.1910 - 1930
Deer hide, velveteen, glass seed beads, cotton thread
Moccasins

inininwak/nehethowuk/Anishinaabe; Manitoba or Saskatchewan

c.1920-1940
Smoked moose hide, smoked deer hide, glass seed beads, silk thread piping, cotton thread

This style of geometric vamp became extremely popular all across Manitoba by the mid-20th century.
Moccasins
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ininiwak/nehethowuk/Anishinaabe; Manitoba or Saskatchewan

c.1920-1940
Smoked moose hide, glass seed beads, silk thread piping, cotton thread
Moccasins
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Anishinaabe, Southern Manitoba or North-midwestern US

c. 1890-1910
Smoked deer or moose hide, canvas, glass seed beads, cotton fabric, cotton thread, silk thread piping

The pattern of repeated diamonds running along the cuff is known as "Medicine Lodge" and is characteristic of Anishinaabe work. The couching threads securing the geometric beadwork on the vamp have all come loose somehow, and the canvas uppers with rope ties are a later addition.
Gauntlets

North-Central US or Western Canada

c. 1890s

Beadwork in this style is common among groups like the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) who live around the plateau regions of Montana and Idaho, but they could also originate in western Saskatchewan or Alberta.
Child's Moccasins

Dakota/Nakota/Anishinaabe; Southern Manitoba or North Dakota

c. 1910-1930
Smoked deer hide, glass seed beads, cotton fabric

This style of two-piece moccasin with a separate sole and all-over geometric decoration is shared by many cultures on the plains. The repeated diamond pattern is characteristically Anishinaabe.
Beaded Bag

Dakota, Nakota, Nehiyawak; Western Canada

c.1910-1930
Deer hide, glass seed beads, cotton thread
Cuffs or Garters
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​ininiwak/Métis; Manitoba

c.1880-1900
Velveteen, cotton, glass seed beads, thread
Arm Bands or Garters

ininiwak/Anishinaabe/Anishininiwak; Lake Winnipeg

c. 1910-1920
Velveteen, cotton, glass seed beads, thread
Women's Leggings

Anishinaabe; Roseau River or Southern Manitoba

​c. 1910-1930

This style of legging is made to be worn under a dress, and might be paired with a jingle dress for dancing. This artist has a very distinctive and contemporary-looking style.

We located an extremely similar pair of leggings, with the same unique beadwork and blue denim-like backing, that were made at Roseau River.
Women's Leggings

Dakota/Anishinaabe
Southern Manitoba or North-midewestern U.S>

c.1890-1910
Glass seed beads, canvas, wool stroud, smoked hide

Designs are meaningful, and they often carry hidden knowledge. These leggings show the lunar cycle: Each leg has four rows of seven diamonds, representing the 28 days between full moons. The blocks of red diamonds show the moon’s eight phases.

Artworks like this would have had a role in sharing teachings, but colonial collecting tore these hereditary traditions -- and their significance -- away from communities.
Loincloth or Dance Aprons
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Anishinaabe; Southern Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario or North-midwestern US

c. 1900-1920
Velveteen, glass seed beads, 


The long fabric band in the middle would wrap between the legs, so one side of the apron hangs on the wearer's front and back.
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Men's Leggings

Anishinaabe; Leech Lake (Minnesota) region

c.1900 - 1920
Velveteen, glass seed bead, cotton fabric, cotton thread

This artist's vivid composition grows all the way up the wearer's legs. We found a photo of a man named Ne-gon-e-bin-ais (Flat Mouth) from Leech Lake wearing leggings with a virtually-identical pattern in 1900.
Horse Bridle

ininiwak/nehethowuk/nîhithaw/Anishinaabe; Manitoba or Saskatchewan

c. 1920s - 1930s
Canvas, glass seed beads, tubular glass beads, silk ribbon, steel bit

This artist was working in a transitional time: Old beads were being replaced with bright new colours, and modern approaches to being were being shared across Manitoba. The flowers with a filled white background resemble traditional Anishinaabe work, but they're also seen in diverse Cree traditions. The simplified, modern floral designs on the straps were beaded on a loom.
Horse Bridle

ininiwak/nehethowuk/nîhithaw/Anishinaabe/Dakota; Western Canada or North-central US

c. 1930-1950
Canvas, cotton, glass seed beads, leather, thread

The beads on this bridle are more modern, and the simplified loom beadwork is now used on most of the piece. This artist decorated her work with an extremely complex picot edge.