SNOWSHOE

Dimensions1.8 x 84 x 25.1 cm

Object numberHF.74.23.8.3 A-B

DescriptionPair of snowshoes. The teardrop shaped snowshoes have a softwood frame with two cross-pieces and are woven with rawhide. The snowshoes have fifteen holes around the top and near the bottom edges through which the rawhide is attached. There are red tufts of wool in each hole. The snowshoes are slightly turned up at the toe and there are two holes left in weaving on each side of the center space near the toe. The rawhide is woven in a doubled square pattern.
Narrative

This style of snowshoe is known by various names including teardrop, beaver-tail or racquet. They were developed and used by the various Indigenous communities that lived throughout the area we now know as the St. Lawrence region of Canada and the U.S. They are the most versatile as this style of snowshoes are suitable to use in various kinds of snow.?

The red tufts of wool were added as adornment without a practical function but originally tufts of animal fur were used around the frame. It is thought that the animal fur provided just enough sent to disguise the sent of the hunters.??