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 Victorian Woven Purse
This enigmatic basket is made of black ash splints for the body and basswood fibers for the details. The maker...
Black Ash Basket with Antler Stand
This black ash basket with antlers was handcrafted in Nedrow, New York by husband and wife duo, Ronni-Leigh Goeman and...
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 a Flowered Quill Box
This is a quill box created in 1985 by Delia Beboning of the Ojibwe. She lives on Manitoulin Island, Ontario,...
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,...
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 Black Ash Basket
This is a Black Ash basket created in 2008 by Cherish Parrish, amember of the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians....
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 Turtle Shell Pouch
This turtle shell pouch was made in 1991 in Carp Lake, MI by Odawa maker Carolyn Beck. It is made...
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 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 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...
Four Views of the Lady Slipper Quill Box
This quill box, crafted in 1998 by Anishinaabe maker Mildred Aguonie of Manitoulin Island, was obtained by the MSU Museum...
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 Painted Birch Bark Box
The MSU Museum describes this box as a "Michigan Indian rectangular birch bark box." The creator is unknown and it...