« The collection contains a set of four birch bark cut-out patterns of floral motifs (fig. 13) used on one of the illustrated covered baskets (fig. 12). Another set of nine patterns, which includes human forms, a fish, a canoe, and floral stencils, is described by Speck as having been used for bead and silk work (fig. 14). However, one of the patterns, that of a fish, was used on a previously described comb case (fig. 91). Speck (1935, pp. 190-191) has noted that for the Montagnais, the symbolic pictorial representation of a plant or animal was equivalent to the actual plant or animal and those portrayed were believed to come under the control of the individual human spirit. Dreams played a major part in suggesting the relationship between specific animals or plants and an individual. The spirit was strengthened by having its dream promptings obeyed and success in subsistence activities was thereby assured. » 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.10, fig 14 (p.42).

« Two trays consist of three rectangular pieces of birch bark tied together with string. To prevent splitting, sticks the width of each end were split in half and secured on either side of the ends with spruce root (fig. 8). According to Speck, meat obtained through dream instructions was placed on these trays at the time of feasts. Rogers (1967, pp. 34-35) describes similar trays used by the Mistassini and he notes that they may have been used only for feast food. When not in use, these trays were rolled into a cylinder and tied. » 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.8-9.

« Two trays consist of three rectangular pieces of birch bark tied together with string. To prevent splitting, sticks the width of each end were split in half and secured on either side of the ends with spruce root (fig. 8). According to Speck, meat obtained through dream instructions was placed on these trays at the time of feasts. Rogers (1967, pp. 34-35) describes similar trays used by the Mistassini and he notes that they may have been used only for feast food. When not in use, these trays were rolled into a cylinder and tied. » 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.8-9.

« A fourth basket is similar in construction to those just described, but is much smaller and narrower and has no lid (fig. 9n). » 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.9, fig 9n (p.37). « A different technique has been used to decorate the small, uncovered basket. Negative designs are produced by scraping them into the dark coating of the inner bark so that they are shown a lighter color than the surrounding bark (Speck, 1937, p. 72). On one side of this basket are what appear to be a series of crude floral designs and on the other a crude representation of a canoe with two occupants (fig. 9n). » Ibis. « Speck (1935, pp. 190-191) has noted that for the Montagnais, the symbolic pictorial representation of a plant or animal was equivalent to the actual plant or animal and those portrayed were believed to come under the control of the individual human spirit. Dreams played a major part in suggesting the relationship between specific animals or plants and an individual. The spirit was strengthened by having its dream promptings obeyed and success in subsistence activities was thereby assured. » 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.10.

« Four birch bark containers, all from the Chicoutimi band which utilized territory to the east of the Lake St. John Band, are described as eating dishes. Each is made from a single piece of bark and has sides that slope outward to an oval or round rim. The rims of all four dishes are separate pieces of wood, probably birch, secured, in three cases, to the tops of the containers with spruce or larch root which was also used to stitch the corners. At intervals on the rim of one of these dishes, four pieces of red cloth, approximately 9 cm in length, have been woven into the root lashing as decoration (fig. 6). The rim of the fourth vessel is tied on with twine and this specimen has been extensively repaired with both twine and roots. One dish has heart-shaped etched designs on all four sides (fig. 7), a decorative technique that will be discussed in more detail when covered baskets are described. The four vessels range in height from 12 to 20 cm, and in diameter from 36 cm to approximately 49 cm. » 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), Vanstone p.8, fig 6 (p.34), 7 (p.35).

« Four birch bark containers, all from the Chicoutimi band which utilized territory to the east of the Lake St. John Band, are described as eating dishes. Each is made from a single piece of bark and has sides that slope outward to an oval or round rim. The rims of all four dishes are separate pieces of wood, probably birch, secured, in three cases, to the tops of the containers with spruce or larch root which was also used to stitch the corners. At intervals on the rim of one of these dishes, four pieces of red cloth, approximately 9 cm in length, have been woven into the root lashing as decoration (fig. 6). The rim of the fourth vessel is tied on with twine and this specimen has been extensively repaired with both twine and roots. One dish has heart-shaped etched designs on all four sides (fig. 7), a decorative technique that will be discussed in more detail when covered baskets are described. The four vessels range in height from 12 to 20 cm, and in diameter from 36 cm to approximately 49 cm. » 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), Vanstone p.8, fig 6 (p.34), 7 (p.35). « A characteristic feature of these baskets is the presence of etched designs on tops and sides. The primary method of producing this ornamentation is by laying cut-out birch bark design patterns on the surface and scraping away the dark inner bark everywhere except where the design has been traced with the point of a knife. The positive design thus stands out dark against a light background (Speck, 1937, p. 71). » 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), Vanstone p.9.

« Four birch bark containers, all from the Chicoutimi band which utilized territory to the east of the Lake St. John Band, are described as eating dishes. Each is made from a single piece of bark and has sides that slope outward to an oval or round rim. The rims of all four dishes are separate pieces of wood, probably birch, secured, in three cases, to the tops of the containers with spruce or larch root which was also used to stitch the corners. At intervals on the rim of one of these dishes, four pieces of red cloth, approximately 9 cm in length, have been woven into the root lashing as decoration (fig. 6). The rim of the fourth vessel is tied on with twine and this specimen has been extensively repaired with both twine and roots. One dish has heart-shaped etched designs on all four sides (fig. 7), a decorative technique that will be discussed in more detail when covered baskets are described. The four vessels range in height from 12 to 20 cm, and in diameter from 36 cm to approximately 49 cm. » 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), Vanstone p.8, fig 6 (p.34), 7 (p.35).

Burden basket. Rectangular with three separated rows of animal designs covering all four sides. The figures are reddish-brown bark, with a lighter (yellowish) grass as background. The upper outside edge is reinforced with a rectangular loop of thick metal (telegraph) wire, held on with hide and fibre loops. The inside base is reinforced with a rectangular loop of root, bent at three corners.

Birch bark basket. Basket is made from white bark on exterior, with a rectangular base from which sides flare widely upwards toward rim. Interior is made of a sheet of brown bark, which also covers the upper exterior sides. Rim is made of a thin branch, pink in colour, attached to the basket by bark wrappings. Corners of the basket are slit and stitched into place with willow thongs.

Birch bark box with lid. Box is constructed of a single piece of bark bent and cut to create a base and walls that have been stitched together with thin strips of bark on the short sides. A squared branch of wood is strapped to the top by bark to form a lip. The exterior is embossed with images of moose, trees, and hunters walking and in boats, with a large scalloped pattern decorating the rim, base flaps, and bottom portion on one long side. A thin handle made of a thong of leather is attached to the basket around the side stitching. The lid (part b) is constructed of two pieces of bark- the top and the inset rim, which are connected by bark stitching and glue. Similar images to those on the box decorate the lid. A decorative 'X' is stitched with bark into the centre. The interior of the box and underside of the lid are undecorated.