This online exhibition was first curated by students in the course "American Indian Women" (ANP 432) in 2016 and added to in subsequent years. This course is taught by Dr. Heather Howard-Bobiwash in the Department of Anthropology at Michigan State University (MSU).  Nibwaakaa, - she is wise - in Anishinaabemowin, the language of the Chippewa or Ojibway people, honors the Indigenous women of this region and the Traditional Owners of the land on which MSU has the privilege to operate. The items exhibited are stewarded by the MSU Museum. Students followed Migwaans' "four views" approach which showcases four perspectives on a single item, viewed and interpreted from four different angles. Please click on each exhibit below to see the students' work and read more on the About page.

Four Views of a Square Quill Box

This exhibit gives four in depth views on Rose Williams’ Maple Leaf Quill Box. The maker of this birch bark...

Four Views of Knife and Sheath

These are the four views of "Knife and Sheath", made and formally owned byMary Wemigwase. The Four views that will...

Four Views of a Ceremonial Dance Hand Fan

This fan is composed of eight turkey feathers arranged in a flat diamond-shape with the base made of two uniform...

Chippewa Glove Box

A Chippewa quill work glove box. The top of the box has one word- Gloves; embroidered in all capital letters....

Quill Box

The quillbox is truly a work of thoughtful hard work, and has resulted in an incredibly beautiful art piece. On the...

Four Views of a Birchbark Container

Lidded birch bark container made from one solid birch bark piece, stitched together with root. The container has a solid...

Four Views of a Victorian Woven Purse

This enigmatic basket is made of black ash splints for the body and basswood fibers for the details. The maker...

Four Views of a Haudenosaunee Beaded Glengarry Cap

This item is a Haudenosaunee crafted beadwork hat featuring organic designs and a wide array of raised floral beadwork over...

Four Views of a Basswood Woven Bag

The basswood woven bag, at a first glance seems like a simple object, yet it is embeded in a web...

Four Views of a Quill Box

This intricately designed "quill box" is birch bark completely covered with porcupine quills and decorated with sweetgrass. It was created...

Four Views of an Octagonal Birchbark Box

The box was created in 1900 by an unknown Odawa artist in Harbor Springs, Michigan. The box is a 5...

Four Views of a Mush Paddle

"This is a hand-carved, solid wood mush paddle. The paddle features two sets of carved grooves, one on the shaft...

Four Views of a Bandolier Bag

A Chippewa bandolier bag is a large, heavy, and intracitely beaded bag that is traditionally worn by men diagonally across...

Four Views of a Birch Bark Container

This small, circular birch bark container features quillwork flowers that are dyed pink and green. Each flower has three petals,...