« The consulting of oracles so as to determine where and when to hunt and to know the future with reference to the weather, illness, and personal matters was extremely important to the Lake St. John Montagnais. It is a subject that has been discussed in considerable detail by Speck (1935, pp. 138-147). A more recent discussion of the subject, with a different interpretation, is found in Tanner (1979, ch. 6). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19. « A beaver's patella, of which there is a single specimen in the collection, was used in a form of moving divination. The bone was placed on a hot stove or stone and a question was asked, usually with reference to the possibility of success in a coming beaver hunt. If the bone trembled, success was assured, but game would be scarce if the bone did not move (Speck, 1935, pp. 162-163). Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.20.

« The consulting of oracles so as to determine where and when to hunt and to know the future with reference to the weather, illness, and personal matters was extremely important to the Lake St. John Montagnais. It is a subject that has been discussed in considerable detail by Speck (1935, pp. 138-147). A more recent discussion of the subject, with a different interpretation, is found in Tanner (1979, ch. 6). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19. « Divination was also practiced with other animal bones. The collection contains two beaver pelvic bones that were used in divination by touch. To learn the outcome of the next hunt, the hunter held the bone over his head and attempted, without looking, to put his finger in the oval opening (Speck, 1935, pp. 160-161; Tanner, 1979, p. 128). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.20.

« The consulting of oracles so as to determine where and when to hunt and to know the future with reference to the weather, illness, and personal matters was extremely important to the Lake St. John Montagnais. It is a subject that has been discussed in considerable detail by Speck (1935, pp. 138-147). A more recent discussion of the subject, with a different interpretation, is found in Tanner (1979, ch. 6). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19. « Scapulimancy with the bones of a variety of animals, especially beaver and hare, along with the three examples of burned scapulae in the collection, apparently those of sheep, are described and illustrated by Speck (1935, pp. 144-145). These scapulae were burned and interpreted by an informant at Speck's request. The pattern of lines on the first scapula (fig. 32b) were said to denote the approach of trouble; those on the second (fig. 32a), the return of good fortune after bad luck; and the third (fig. 32c) a sign of good luck in the form of monetary gain. The latter two scapulae have broken in the burned areas since they were illustrated by Speck (1935, p. 145, fig. 14b-c). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19, fig 32a (p.60).

« The consulting of oracles so as to determine where and when to hunt and to know the future with reference to the weather, illness, and personal matters was extremely important to the Lake St. John Montagnais. It is a subject that has been discussed in considerable detail by Speck (1935, pp. 138-147). A more recent discussion of the subject, with a different interpretation, is found in Tanner (1979, ch. 6). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19. « Scapulimancy with the bones of a variety of animals, especially beaver and hare, along with the three examples of burned scapulae in the collection, apparently those of sheep, are described and illustrated by Speck (1935, pp. 144-145). These scapulae were burned and interpreted by an informant at Speck's request. The pattern of lines on the first scapula (fig. 32b) were said to denote the approach of trouble; those on the second (fig. 32a), the return of good fortune after bad luck; and the third (fig. 32c) a sign of good luck in the form of monetary gain. The latter two scapulae have broken in the burned areas since they were illustrated by Speck (1935, p. 145, fig. 14b-c). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19, fig 32c (p.60).

« The consulting of oracles so as to determine where and when to hunt and to know the future with reference to the weather, illness, and personal matters was extremely important to the Lake St. John Montagnais. It is a subject that has been discussed in considerable detail by Speck (1935, pp. 138-147). A more recent discussion of the subject, with a different interpretation, is found in Tanner (1979, ch. 6). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19. « Scapulimancy with the bones of a variety of animals, especially beaver and hare, along with the three examples of burned scapulae in the collection, apparently those of sheep, are described and illustrated by Speck (1935, pp. 144-145). These scapulae were burned and interpreted by an informant at Speck's request. The pattern of lines on the first scapula (fig. 32b) were said to denote the approach of trouble; those on the second (fig. 32a), the return of good fortune after bad luck; and the third (fig. 32c) a sign of good luck in the form of monetary gain. The latter two scapulae have broken in the burned areas since they were illustrated by Speck (1935, p. 145, fig. 14b-c). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19, fig 32b (p.60).

« Although the hunting of bears was surrounded with more ritual than that of any other animal, there were ritual responsibilities toward others as well. » anstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.20. « The loon was an important bird of omen to the hunter and his cries were considered to be an indication of the coming direction and force of the wind (Speck, 1935, p. 126). To placate slain birds, the loon's skull, of which there is one in the collection, was placed in a bush with the mandible set perpendicularly in the nasal opening (fig. 35). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.20, fig 35 (p.63).

« The consulting of oracles so as to determine where and when to hunt and to know the future with reference to the weather, illness, and personal matters was extremely important to the Lake St. John Montagnais. It is a subject that has been discussed in considerable detail by Speck (1935, pp. 138-147). A more recent discussion of the subject, with a different interpretation, is found in Tanner (1979, ch. 6). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19. « Although the hunting of bears was surrounded with more ritual than that of any other animal, there were ritual responsibilities toward others as well. The skulls of beavers were elevated (Speck, 1935, p. 114) and the collection contains three beaver mandibles which were taken from bushes where they had been placed to placate the spirits of slain beavers. » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.20.

« The consulting of oracles so as to determine where and when to hunt and to know the future with reference to the weather, illness, and personal matters was extremely important to the Lake St. John Montagnais. It is a subject that has been discussed in considerable detail by Speck (1935, pp. 138-147). A more recent discussion of the subject, with a different interpretation, is found in Tanner (1979, ch. 6). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19. « Placation of the spirits of game animals was also an important element in Montagnais religion. The collection contains two black bear skulls, one of which is lashed to a piece of wood with narrow strips of caribou skin (fig. 26d). In the Lake St. John area, as well as elsewhere among the Montagnais-Naskapi, the skulls of slain bears were placed in trees. The animals were believed to derive spiritual satisfaction from this procedure and Speck (1935, pp. 102-103, pi. 7) notes that it may be a form of tree burial in which bears, like people, are recognized as being immortal. » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.20, fig 26d (p.54).

« The consulting of oracles so as to determine where and when to hunt and to know the future with reference to the weather, illness, and personal matters was extremely important to the Lake St. John Montagnais. It is a subject that has been discussed in considerable detail by Speck (1935, pp. 138-147). A more recent discussion of the subject, with a different interpretation, is found in Tanner (1979, ch. 6). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19. « Placation of the spirits of game animals was also an important element in Montagnais religion. The collection contains two black bear skulls, one of which is lashed to a piece of wood with narrow strips of caribou skin (fig. 26d). In the Lake St. John area, as well as elsewhere among the Montagnais-Naskapi, the skulls of slain bears were placed in trees. The animals were believed to derive spiritual satisfaction from this procedure and Speck (1935, pp. 102-103, pi. 7) notes that it may be a form of tree burial in which bears, like people, are recognized as being immortal. »Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.20, fig 26d (p.54).

« The manufacture of snowshoes among the Lake St. John and Mistassini Indians has been described in considerable detail by Lips (1947, pp. 69-77) and Rogers (1967, pp. 91-101). The webbing was laced with a needle, of which there are six in the collection, one made of wood and five of bone. These needles are pointed at both ends and have a hole in the center. All are approximately the length of the illustrated specimens (fig. 32d,i). » Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.18, fig 32d, i (p.60).