The trail of the Rabbit Fur Coat

One of the most exciting things that happened with our museum collection in the last few months was the amazing reunification of an object with the family of the maker.

In May 2015, ACCI hosted a Curatorial workshop lead by Moira McCaffrey, and one of the attendees was Linda Stewart Georgekish from Wemindji. At this time, she mentioned to us that her late mother Demaris Gilpin Stewart had made a rabbit fur coat ‘for a museum’ back in the 1980s and that she has been looking for it ever since! We informed her that we do have a few rabbit fur coats in our collection and that we would keep an eye out.

           A few months ago, Linda posted a photograph on Facebook of her nephew, Bernard Stewart, modelling the coat when he was a boy in 1980:

Bernard Stewart, 1980

"This is Our Story: First Nations and Inuit in the 21st Century" at The Musee de la Civilization in Quebec City

On the 26th and 27th of November, the Board of ACCI met at the Hotel-Musee Premieres Nations in Wendake, near Quebec City.

One of the highlights of the meeting was participation in the opening of the new permanent exhibition at the Musee de la civilization, titled "This is Our Story: First Nations and Inuit in the 21st Century".

The exhibition takes an in-depth look at today’s aboriginal cultures, from their diversity, worldviews, beliefs, and ways of identifying with their pasts, to contemporary expressions of aboriginality around the world. The exhibition delves into what it means to be aboriginal in the 21st century.

Dianne Ottereyes Reid, Willie Iserhoff, Kenny Mianscum, and Stephen Inglis had participated in meetings in Quebec to discuss the exhibition over the last three years.

Staff at ACCI had also hosted a visit of several days by the exhibition team.

The board members, staff, and friends gathered for a photo in the lobby of the museum before the event.

Photo attached, she is accompanied by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mrs. Elizabeth Larouche, the Minister of Culture and Communications, Mr. Maka Kotto and the Museums of Civilization Executive Director, Michel Côté (left)

Our President, Dianne Ottereyes Reid, was hounered during the formal part of the programme.

Jackie Gull Memorial Pipun Eeyou Eetouwin

Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute was recently invited to attend the Jackie Gull Memorial Pipun Eeyou Eetouwin in Waswanipi. We were absolutely delighted with the hospitality and kindness shown towards us from everyone involved in this event. Upon our arrival in Waswanipi we were invited for a feast where we were served bannock, rabbit stew, moose stir fry, moose tongue and moose intestine. All food was prepared on open fires in teepees at the cultural village by an extremely knowledgeable and friendly group of elders. As we sat around, sampling some of the most delicious and exquisite food, laughter and stories filled the lunch time conversation. Being welcomed with this form of hospitality was truly a remarkable experience. 

We quickly set up our table and met with residents from the Cree Nation of Waswanipi. Virtual tours of our exhibit were shown; books and information from our Library and Archives were on display; and people came to view our collection of videos. As day turned to evening, the excitement grew as we prepared to show “The Cree Hunters of Mistassini”, a film that follows 3 families living in the bush for the winter months while they live a traditional lifestyle. The turnout was exceptional and all in attendance enjoyed seeing the film.

On the following day Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute staff returned to show the same film to the local elders. When the film started, laughter filled the air, and when it was over, the conversation amongst the audience was all about living a traditional lifestyle and memories were shared for all to hear. 

ACCI would sincerely like to thank Diane Cooper, Alex Moses and the Elders of Waswanipi for inviting and allowing our staff to participate in this wonderful event.

Days 15 and 16 of the Heritage Preservation Project!

We rounded out the calendar year with trips to our neighbouring communities Waswanipi and Mistissini.

In Waswanipi we visited Cultural Coordinator Diane Cooper at the riverside location of the Waswanipi Culture Department.  Diane’s previous museum training means she is well aware of the different risks to heritage collections.  Insects are common threats, feasting on the proteins available in hides and furs.  And strong light and UV radiation can cause fading and deterioration.  Diane takes different measures to protect the collections in her care.  To kill off active insect attacks, she places the affected artefacts in the freezer.  To prevent light damage, she moves artefacts to darker areas of the building or places them under covers.  Specialized knowledge is necessary so that freezing and shading are carried out in the correct way with artefact-safe materials.

Diane Cooper showing us a moose hide top that suffered some light damage in the past.  The top is now kept out of direct sunlight, under a cover.

Diane Cooper holding up a stretched beaver pelt with a moth problem, destined for treatment in the freezer.

We enjoyed looking at all of the artefacts, art works and photographs currently on display in the building, and then toured other spaces in the community which may become the new home for the Culture Department in the future.  Safety and environmental protection are top priorities for Diane in her evaluation of the spaces, as is adequate room for the storage and display of artefacts.  We look forward to hearing about future plans for the Culture Department.

Our second stop in Waswanipi was at the Cree Trappers Association, where we interviewed Fur Officer Paul Dixon.  After looking at some recently purchased furs, Paul revealed to us his detailed recordkeeping system, through which he not only tracks fur purchases and sales, but the conditions on the trap lines and changes to the animal populations.  In addition to these valuable records, Paul collects issues of the Nation magazine.  Both of these collections deserve protection, and Paul was interested in hearing our recommendations for long-term care of paper materials, including using acid-free storage sleeves, folders and boxes to support the items and delay acidic discolouration and deterioration. Of course, Paul is mastering the first rule of preservation – collect!  

Paul Dixon, showing us just one of his collections – boxes of back-issues of the Nation magazine.

Our site visits have ended, and we are now home in Ouje-Bougoumou.  Stay tuned for announcements of next ventures of the Heritage Preservation Project on the ACCI website!  

Days 7, 8 and 9 of the Heritage Preservation Project!

The second phase of our visit in Waskaganish really had us on the go!

Stopping in briefly at the local radio station - Waskaganish siibi ayimuyabii - roles were reversed and WE were interviewed by Program Manager, Kevin Whiskeychan, for an on-air radio promo of the project.  Then we had a chance to look at the variety of recording formats  - reel to reel; cassette, mini-disk - that were used by the station overtime to record local music performances and conversations, and discussed digitization as an option for preserving recordings as players become obsolete.

We visited the Cree Culture classroom of teacher Ricky Jolly (Ecole Wiinibekuu School) and enjoyed his explanations of the making of traditional items, such as carved decoys, children's toys and natural traps and snares.  He had decorated his classroom with displays of his own family heirlooms, providing inspiration for his students' projects.  Ricky emphasized the importance of preserving traditional skills and knowledge, as well as the Cree language, and noted that he tries to record his father's Cree words for tools and materials - words that he himself doesn't know or has forgotten.

Cree Culture teacher Ricky Jolly talking about traditional methods of finishing carved goose decoys.

Days 4, 5 and 6 of the Heritage Preservation Project!

Our stops in Chisasibi focused on archival materials and how the Cree Nation of Chisasibi catalogues and stores materials, and ensures important files are backed-up by scanning them.  

The Cree Nation of Chisasibi Administrative Centre.

We also had time to sneak in a quick visit to the Catholic Church that had been moved by barge when the community of Fort George was relocated to Chisasibi in 1981, and to see the building of the Chisasibi Heritage Centre. 

Then we were off again, headed to Waskaganish!

The Waskaganish logo etched into a glass wall at the Waskaganish airport.

Days 2 and 3 of the ACCI Heritage Preservation Project!

We had excellent conversations with members of the Whapmagoostui First Nation today and learned about the recently founded Cultural Association which will collect traditional knowledge and material heritage.  We also had an informative discussion with Reverend Tom Martin regarding the history of the Anglican Church in Whapmagoostui, including the first church ("Old Church"), the second church, and the current, third, church.  

Lisa discussing the painted mural in the current church with Reverend Tom Martin.  The mural had been commissioned for the second church and was later moved to the current church once the building was completed.

Claire transcribing some of the conversations recorded earlier in the day into the survey binders.

Small gifts (ACCI lanyards) for the elders we ate lunch with at the MSDC on our last day in Whapmagoostui.  Behind the group and traveling around the room are framed photographs of local couples from decades ago until the present.

Claire boards the plane for our next flight to Chisasibi!

  In Chisasibi our first stop is the Cree Nation of Chisasibi administration office, where we will speak to the former archivist about collecting and preserving records since the Fort George relocation.

- Chisasibi: October 31 - November 2
- Waskaganish: November 2 - 7
- Ouje-Bougoumou: November 8 - 9
- Wemindji: November 12 - 14
- Eastmain: November 14 - 16
- Waswanipi: November 19-20
- Mistissini: November 21 - 22
- Nemaska: TBD

Day 1 of the ACCI Heritage Preservation Project!

ACCI staff are carrying out a project to survey cultural heritage collections in the communities of Eeyou/Eenou Istchee, offering preservation tips along the way and gathering interest for a future preservation workshop.

Today our Archivist and Conservator landed in Whapmagoostui, the northernmost James Bay Cree community.

Archivist, Lisa, stands by the beautiful glass wall at the Kuujjuarapik Airport.

The old Anglican church still standing in the community; an example of built heritage. 

Lisa and Claire (Conservator) look forward do meeting Rev. Tom Martin tomorrow, as well as other important members of the community, to discuss local Cree artefacts, archives and built heritage, and how they can be preserved for the future.  

Stay tuned for more posts from our travelers as they make stops in each community!

         - Whapmagoostui: October 29 - 31
         - Chisasibi: October 31 - November 2
         - Waskaganish: November 2 - 7
         - Ouje-Bougoumou: November 8 - 9
         - Wemindji: November 12 - 14
         - Eastmain: November 14 - 16
         - Waswanipi: November 19-20
         - Mistissini: November 21 - 22
         - Nemaska: TBD