Content Providers

Curator/facilitator: Peter Armitage (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador)

Researcher: Nympha Byrne (Natuashish, Labrador)

Innu Tshishennuat (Elders), many who have sadly passed away: Tshishennish Pasteen, Matinen (Rich) Katshinak, Matinen (Poker) Rich, Shimun Michel, Manian (Ashini) Michel, Pien Penashue, Nishet (Pokue) Penashue, Pinashue Benuen, Munik (Gregoire) Rich, Sheshin (Rich) Rich, Uniam Katshinak, Pinamen (Rich) Katshinak, Shuashem Nui, Etuat Mestenapeo, Nishapet Rich, Anishen (Katshinak) Rich, and Matinen (Selma) Michelin.

Elder consultations in Uashau-Mani-Utenam – Tenesh (Pone) Andrew, Pinashue Penashue, Mani-Akat Mollen, Etien Mollen, Enen (Nolin) Mollen, Shenum Mollen, Nashtash (Bellefleur) Bellefleur, and Shushepiss Bellefleur.

Innu translators and interpreters: An Nuna, Manishan (Piwas) Edmonds, Tamien Benuen, Mani-Nush Michel, Aniet (Michel) Bartmann, Etien Pastiwet, Nympha Byrne, and John Jack.

Innu artists: Manian (Rich) Penashue (Sheshatshiu, Labrador) and Christine (Rich) Poker (Natushish, Labrador)

Research and writing: Camille Fouillard

Photo credits: The following people and institutions graciously provided access to photographs that were used in the various sections of the site: Betty Cawkill Ellis; Labrador Institute of Memorial University (2005); the Memorial University Labrador Campus Archive (2024); Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College; McCord Stewart Museum; Musée ilnu de Mashteuiatsh; Canadian Museum of History; Eirik Sandberg Ingstad and the National Library of Norway for the use of Hans Hvide Bang photos; Field Museum of Natural History (Frank Speck Collection); Library and Archives Canada; The Rooms, Provincial Archives and Provincial Museum Division, Newfoundland and Labrador; New Brunswick Museum; Smithsonian Institution; University of Pennsylvania Museum; Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada; Them Days; British Museum; Ray Webber (via Tenesh Webber); Georg Henriksen; Nachelle Poker and Aaron Poker; Bob Bartel; Alexander Andrew; Camille Fouillard; Christina Parker Gallery; Greg Locke; Valérie Courtois; Innu Nation; Anthony Jenkinson; Navarana Tretina; Tom Green; Peter Sibbald; Frank Ward; Troy M. Gipps; Nympha Byrne; Bailey White, CBC; Anthony Germaine, CBC; Betty Peterson; Prote Poker; PerfectDay; Nigel Markham; Heidi Atter; Peter Armitage; and Christine Poker.

See below, for information on all photos included on the site, including photos without captions.

Innu apprentices on the Pien ashtunu (Pien makes a canoe) canoe section (2005)

• Melvin Penashue (Sheshatshiu, Labrador)
• Alistair Pone (Sheshatshiu, Labrador)

Thanks to Pashin Penashue (Sheshatshiu, Labrador) for his help videotaping portions of Pien Penashue’s canoe project Pien ashtunu .

Also thanks to:

Randy Jarvis, Doug Crane, Marilyn Chubbs, Tracy Heard, Dwayne Thompson, and Amy Young at Peenamin McKenzie School in Sheshatshiu, Labrador, for reviewing the draft stories with their students in 2005.

The nine students from Peenamin McKenzie School in Sheshatshiu, for contributing their stories in 2005 when the website was originally created.

Fred Wood, Queen Elizabeth Regional High School in Foxtrap, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, for reviewing the original website content in 2005.

Inspiration

The travel routes section of this website was heavily inspired by a similar site created by the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, called “Lessons from the Land,” that deals with the history and culture of the Dogrib people of the Northwest Territories. We wish to acknowledge the Heritage Centre as the creative genius behind the travel route concept, a powerful way to place stories about the land and material culture used within their historical and geographic contexts.

Original Project Coordination 

The original website tipatshimuna.ca was a Virtual Museum of Canada project coordinated by Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) of the Department of Canadian Heritage. We wish to acknowledge:

Danielle Boily, Manager, Public Programs; Wendy Thomas, Project Director/Manager; Raphaëlle Aubin, Project Assistant; with the participation of staff members Pierrette Gauthier, Natali Deroy, Gilbert Guibord, Robyn Jeffrey, Allison Simpson and Terry Smith

Thanks to Valérie Chartrand for her earlier role as project manager.

Original Project Partners & Collaborators 

The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division, Newfoundland and Labrador (St. John’s, Newfoundland),  therooms.ca
Penny Houlden, Director

Innu Education Authority, precursor of Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education, (Labrador)
Kanani Penashue-Davis, https://www.innueducation.ca/

Innu Nation (Labrador),
Richard Nuna, Manager – Environment, Culture and Conservation, http://www.innu.ca

Canadian Conservation Institute (Ottawa, Ontario), https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute.html
Tom Stone

Centre d’interprétation de la Côte-de-Beaupré (Château-Richer, Québec)
Françoise Demontigny Pelletier

Cultural Services Branch, Yukon Government (Whitehorse, Yukon)
Ed Krahn and  Sarah Charlie

McCord Stewart Museum (Montreal, Quebec), https://www.musee-mccord-stewart.ca/en/
Guislaine LeMay

Musée ilnu  de Masteuiatsh (Masteuiatsh, Quebec),  museeilnu.ca
Louise Siméon

Musée montagnais d’Ekuanitshit, Conseil des Innus de Ekuanitshit (Ekuanitshu, Quebec), ekuanitshit.com/maison-de-la-culture
Rita Mestokosho

Musée Shaputuan (Uashau-Mani-utenam / Sept-Iles, Quebec), museeshaputuan.org
Bernard St-Onge and Claude Francis

New Brunswick Museum (St. John, New Brunswick)
https://www.nbm-mnb.ca/home/
Andrea Kirkpatrick

University of Pennsylvania, Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology,
Marilyn Norcini, Senior Research Scientist, American Section, https://facilities.upenn.edu/maps/locations/museum-archaeology-and-anthropology-university-pennylvania

Institutional supporters (2005)

Canadian Heritage Information Network, Department of Canadian Heritage

Innu Nation, Sheshatshiu and Natuashish, Labrador

Peenamin McKenzie School (Sheshatshiu)

Labrador School Board

Museums Assistance Program, Department of Canadian Heritage

The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division, Newfoundland and Labrador

Awards

The original website won

• a Canadian Museums Association Award of Outstanding Achievement in Multi-media (2006)
• an ICOM’s International Committee for the Audiovisual and New Image and Sound Technologies (AVICOM) Prix Web’Art for virtual exhibition (2007)

Website redesign coordination 2024

Camille Fouillard, for Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education

Website Production 2024

Perfect Day, https://perfectdaycanada.com

Institutional supporters 2024

• Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education, https://www.innueducation.ca
• Innu Nation, Sheshatshiu and Natuashish, Labrador, http://www.innu.ca/
• Sheshatshiu Innu School, https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=sheshatshiu%20innu%20school
• Mushuau Innu Natuashish School, https://www.facebook.com/MushuauInnuNatuashishSchool
• The Rooms, https://therooms.ca

 

 

Photo credits:

Home:

1. Near Natuashish airstrip. 2018. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard
2. Innu children in caribou furs. 1927-8. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology). (CSA61483)
3. Canoeing near Old Davis Inlet. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
4. Pien Penashue speaking at an international gathering at Uhu-neiau, regarding the campaign against military flight training over Nitassinan. 1985. photo by Camille Fouillard
5. Innu mother and children in tent: Shaiet Rich (girl on left,) Akat Rich, Pinamen Katshinak (white jacket). 1950. Photo by Nicholas Dean. Courtesy of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Musuem and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College
6. Mary Jane Nuna and Annie Michel making moccasins. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber and the Canadian Museum of History
7. Joachim Nui. 2023. Photo courtesy of Aaron Poker
8. Frederick Penashue with a muskrat and duck, Iatuekupau (Park Lake). 1985. Betty Peterson photo
9. Edith Tshakapesh and Mary Ann Rich hauling boughs for the tent floor. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber

 

Introduction

1. Shushepish (Joe) Rich, Old Davis Inlet. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
2. Part of the Innu tent village, on shores of Kakatshu-utshishtun (Grand Lake). 1930. Photo by Fred Coleman Sears. Courtesy of The Rooms, Provincial Archives Division. Newfoundland and Labrador. VA 110-12-1
3. Woman stretching caribou skin to make babiche to fill the snowshoe. 1927-8. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology) CSA61446
4. Nuk, Innu boy with bow and arrow, 1927-8. Photo by Donald Baxter MacMillan. Courtesy of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College. 3000.33.254
5. Innu boys playing checkers. Sheshatshiu. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber and the Canadian Museum of History
6. Caribou swimming across Kameshtashten Lake. Photo taken shortly before Sebastian Piwas speared the middle caribou. 2007. Courtesy of Valérie Courtois
7. Mikau Andrew and Sasha Rich, with teacher Beth Holley, making the Innu legend film Kuekuatsheu Mak Muak, directed by Navarana Tretina and Christine Poker. 2017. Photo courtesy of Navarana Tretina

 

The Innu

1. Anna Pokue at the Manishan Nui Gathering at Tshiashku-paushtik (Gull Island). 2021. Photo by Greg Locke. Courtesy of the Innu Nation.
2. Casen Tshakapesh partridge hunting. 2023. Photo courtesy of Nachelle Poker
3. Boy hunting 1927-8. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology) CSA61565
4. Michel (Giant) Andrew leading a group of Sheshatshiu walkers into Pakut-shipu from Sheshatshiu to raise money for diabetes research. 2010. Photo by Alex Andrew
5. Grade 4 classroom, Sheshatshiu Innu School. 2013. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard

 

Travel Stories:

1. Nitassinan vista. Photo by PerfectDay.
2. Innu families traveling by dog team. 1966. Photo by Georg Henriksen
3. Canoeing in the fall. 1963. Photo by Hans Hvide Bang. Courtesy of Erik Sandberg Ingstad, Ingstad Archives and the Norwegian National Library

Pasteen story

1. Setting up a teepee. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
2. Tshinuatipish, on Mushuau-nipi (Indian House Lake), as it looked when William Brooks Cabot visited in August, 1910. Photo by William Brooks Cabot. Courtesy Smithsonian Institution
3. Red berries. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard
4. Old film footage of Innu people visiting the mission at Sheshatshiu and Davis Inlet taken by or for Monsignor Edward Joseph O’Brien between 1921 and 1946. Footage courtesy Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Falls, Newfoundland, and The Rooms, Provincial Archives Division
5. Tshishenish (James) Pasteen. 1963. Photo by Hans Hvide Bang. Courtesy of Erik Sandberg Ingstad, Ingstad Archives and the Norwegian National Library
6. Napeu (Edward Rich) playing the drum in a teepee. Emish. 1910. Photo by Judy-Pauline Hunter White. Courtesy of Alika Podolinksy Webber fonds and Library and Archives Canada
7. Joseph Piwas checking his net. 1963. Photo by Hans Hvide Bang. Courtesy of Erik Sandberg Ingstad, Ingstad Archives and the Norwegian National Library
8. Charlotte (Pasteen) Gregoire, Mary Agnes (Asta) Collins and Adeline Pasteen fetching wood. 1963. Photo by Hans Hvide Bang. Courtesy of Erik Sandberg Ingstad, Ingstad Archives and the Norwegian National Library
9. Mushuau Innu man from Old Davis Inlet area of northern Labrador hunting partridge with a bow and arrow. 1927-8.  Photo by Donald Baxter MacMillan photo.  Courtesy of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Musuem and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College
10. Woman securing child and load onto a toboggan. 1928. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology). CSA61401
11. Woman working on snowshoes. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
12. Family travelling on komatik. 1928. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology) CSA61504
13. Boy with dog in a Libby box. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
14. Ussinitshishu’s wife, Mantuka, and daughter at Mishti Uait’s (Richard White’s) store. 1930. Photo by Judy-Pauline Hunter White. Courtesy of Alika Podolinksy Webber and Library and Archives Canada
15. Trader Mishti Uait (Richard White) and two unidentified Innu at Emish, 1930. Photo Judy-Pauline Hunter White, Photo courtesy Winston White
16. Painted pishakanakup (caribou jacket), possible collector Mishit-Uait (Richard White). Unknown artist. Unknown date. Photo courtesy of the Rooms, Provincial Archives Division, Newfoundland and Labrador.
17. Pin and boughs/cup and pin game. Bundle of fir twig is tied with string to make the cup. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
18. Innu arrive by canoe at Mishti Uait’s (Richard White’s) store at Emish. 1930. Photo Judy-Pauline Hunter White. Courtesy of Alika Podolinksy Webber fonds and Library and Archives Canada
19. Marcel Nui, Thaddeus Rich, Elizabeth Nui, Cajetan Rich and Matthew Rich with sling shots. 1966. Photo by Georg Henriksen
20. Kids and dogs at trading post. Around 1920. Emish. Photo by Judy-Pauline Hunter White. Courtesy of Alika Podolinksy Webber fonds and Library and Archives Canada

Pun story

1. Innu family. 1927-1931. Photo by Rupert Baxter. Courtesy of the Memorial University Labrador Campus Archive and the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College
2. Innu canoe-making “factory.” 1921. Photo E.M. Kindle. Courtesy of Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada
3. Innu man, woman, four children and dog, in canoe disembarking at Sheshatshiu. 1933. Photo courtesy of the Rooms, Provincial Archives Division, Newfoundland and Labrador
4. Old film footage of Innu people visiting the mission at Sheshatshiu and Davis Inlet taken by or for Monsignor Edward Joseph O’Brien between 1921 and 1946. Courtesy Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Falls, Newfoundland and The Rooms, Provincial Archives Division
5. Canoe building. Sheshatshiu. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber and the Canadian Museum of History
6. Men in canoes poling up Kaku-shipu (rivière Coxipi) en route to Sandwich Bay, Labrador. 1920. (Coxsippi means Porcupine River) William Brooks Cabot Collection. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution
7. Innu family. Circa 1926-1937. IGA 1-12. Photo courtesy of The Rooms, Provincial Archives Division, Newfoundland and Labrador
8. Charlie Unganna’s girls with their dolls. 1931. Donald Baxter MacMillan photo. Courtesy of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Musuem and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College
9. Innu birchbark torch and salmon spear used for night fishing. Circa 1947-1957, Pakut-shipu (St. Augustin). Photo William F. Stiles. Courtesy National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution
10. Woman smoking and drying salmon. 1930. Courtesy of The Rooms, Provincial Archives Division, Newfoundland and Labrador
11. Adeline Pasteen splitting wood. 1963. Photo by Hans Hvide Bang. Courtesy of Erik Sandberg Ingstad, Ingstad Archives and the Norwegian National Library
12. Innu hunter in the making, Sheshatshiu. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber and the Canadian Museum of History
13. Innu man drumming while his wife looks on. Sheshatshiu. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
14. Pinamen fleshing a caribou skin. 1928. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology). CSA61465c
15. Maniaten Penashue lacing snowshoes at a nutshimit camp in the Kamashkushkatinau-nipi region. 1989. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard
16. Unkueu crushing bones for Makushan. 1928. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology). CSA61682c

 

Exhibit Gallery

Wooden spoon or ladle

1. Emikuan used for scooping out the grease from boiled crushed bones. Peenmain Mackenzie School collection
2. Tanien Poker crushing caribou leg bones at Ashuapun in preparation for makushan. Photo courtesy of Prote Poker
3. Wooden spoon. Musée ilnu de Mashteuiatsh collection
4. Wooden ladle/spoon. The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division, Newfoundland and Labrador
5. Emikuan used for scooping out the grease from boiled crushed bones. Peenamin Mackenzie School collection

Toboggan

1. Toboggan, Peenamin MacKenzie School collection, Innu Nation 2005
2. A small Innu shaputuan in northern Labrador. One can just make out a toboggan leaning up against the backside of the dwelling. Photo courtesy of Them Days
3. Quentin Penashue and Roberta Pone pull toboggans carrying their belongings during Tshaukuesh Penashue’s meshkanu (walk) in 2015. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard
4. Shinipest (Tommy) hauling a slain caribou on a sled. 1927-8. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
5. Belongings strapped to a toboggan. 1966. Photo by Georg Henriksen
6. Kaniuekutat (John) and Angela Poker take a break on their sled. 1966. Photo by Georg Henriksen
7. Joe and Akat Rich, with Napeu, Penashue and baby. 1928. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
8. Woman pull a toboggan stacked with boughs to use for the tent floor. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
9. Baby bundled on a sled ready for travel. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
10. Witcamaken and his family arrive at the camp nearly starving, hauling their belongings on sleds. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
11. Woman hauling her belongings on a sled. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
12. Innu hauling canoe on komatik pulled by dog team near Emish. 1930-45. Photo by Judy-Pauline White. Courtesy of Alika Podolinsky Webber and Library and Archives Canada

Doll

1. Anishen (Angela) Andrew making a tea doll. Photo courtesy of Peter Armitage
2. Carved wooden dolls with facial features drawn with pencil. Collected by Frank Speck. Courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania Museum
3. Male doll with drum. Made by Matinin (Selma) Michelin. Courtesy of the Rooms, Provincial Museum Division, Newfoundland and Labrador
4. Charlie Unganna’s girls with their dolls. 1931. Donald Baxter MacMillan photo. Courtesy of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Musuem and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College
5. Infant tea doll wrapped in a blanket and swaddled in an ashukuia made of smoked caribou. Peenamin Mackenzie School collection
6. Male and female wooden dolls, head features carved, eyes of black glass beads, hair black cotton thread, clothing made of caribou skin. The Room collection. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
7. Small wooden doll, head carved, eyes and hair drawn in pencil, wrapped in red wool and skin, covered with larger piece of skin like cradle. Courtesy of the Rooms, Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
8. Tea doll with swaddled baby made by An-Pinamen (Gregoire) Pokue. Peenamin Mackenzie School collection

Spear

1. Tshinuatipish, on Mushuau-nipi (Indian House Lake), where the Innu went to hunt caribou, slaying them with a spear when they crossed the lake. 1910 (photo William Brooks Cabot, courtesy of Smithsonian Institution
2. Caribou crossing the Mushuau-shipu. Innu would spear the animals as they were crossing the river. Photo courtesy of Troy M. Gipps
3. Spear, lance. The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division, Newfoundland and Labrador
4. Kameshtatshtin Lake. The caribou in the middle was speared by Sebastian Piwas just after this photo was taken. 2007. Photo courtesy of Valérie Courtois
5. Innu spear (model). The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
6. Spear head made of quartzite, found in archaeology dig in Sheshatshiu, Labrador. 2024. Photo courtesy of Anthony Jenkinson
7. Jason Nuna holds a quartzite point (the same spear head) excavated at an archeology site in Sheshatshit. 2024. Photo courtesy of Anthony Jenkinson

Snowshoes:

1. Wooden plank snowshoes. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
2. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
3. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
4. Diagram by Shuashem Nui, top section of snowshoe is not laced. 2003
5. Model snowshoes, part of a tent model. Peenamin MacKenzie School collection
6. Suzie Pastiwet´s snowshoes, Utshimassits. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
7. Diagram by Shuashem (Joachim) Nui. 2003
8. Peenamin MacKenzie School collection
9. Nishet Penashue lacing snowshoes at her camp in the Akami-uapishk^u region in the fall of 1977. Photo by Nigel Markham. Courtesy of Innu Nation
10. Unkueu weaving babiche onto snowshoes with a bone needle. 1927-8 The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
11. Uiniam and Anis Katshinak making snowshoes. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
12. Mushuau Pastiwet carrying a pair of adult and child’s snowshoes. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
13. Michel (Giant) Andrew as a toddler on snowshoes. Photo courtesy of Alex Andrew
14. Maniaten Penashue showing her late son Muiss how to fill a snowshoe. 1989. Kamashkushkatinau-nipi region. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard
15. Alice Katshinak cutting caribou skin to make babiche to fill the snowshoe, as Tatias Rich smiles at the camera. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
16. Punis, an orphan boy, with his snowshoes. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)

Sling

1. Tatias Rich, Kashetan Rich and Matiu Rich playing with slingshots, 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
2. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
3. Sling shot. The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador

Caribou skin coat – pishakanakup

1. Skin coat, The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division
Provincial Museum of Newfoundland & Labrador
2. Close-up of the double-curve motif from caribou skin coat (III-B-208). The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
3. Innu men in northern Labrador wearing both fur and painted caribou skin coats. 1880. Photographer unknown. Photo courtesy Canadian Museum of History (no. J-6542)
4. Painting on a caribou skin. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
5. Jodie Ashini with painted caribou jacket returned to the Innu by the Labrador Heritage Society. 2021. Photo courtesy of Heidi Atter
6. Close up of Innu painted jacket. The red was painted with red ochre, a natural clay combined with animal fat. The yellow is believed to have been fish eggs mixed with animal fat, and the blue is from blueberries mixed with animal fat. Photo courtesy of Heidi Atter
7. Children in caribou skin coats playing a game. 1927-8. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
8. Mushuau Innu toddler in caribou fur jacket. 1927-8. Photo by Donald Baxter MacMillan, Courtesy of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College
9. Ueuetemishkueu (Alice) Noah smoking caribou hide so that it can be used to make moccasins, mittens and other clothing. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
10. Innu caribou skin painted 1830-1853. Collected by Sir John Henry Lefroy.  Photo © The Trustees of the British Museum. Shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) licence
11. Child’s painted summer coat and cap. 1931. Frank Speck Collection. Photo courtesy of University of Pennsylvania Museum
12. Man’s summer coat. 1931. Frank Speck collection. Photo courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania Museum
13. Man’s painted winter coat with fur inside. 1931. Frank Speck collection. Photo courtesy of University of Pennsylvania Museum
14. Man’s painted summer coat. 1931. Frank Speck collection. Photo courtesy of University of Pennsylvania Museum
15. Family in caribou fur jackets. 1927-8. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)

Leister

1. Leister (fish spear), Peenamin McKenzie School collection
2. Innu birch bark torch and uashuakanashku (leister) used for night fishing in the Pakut-shipu area (St. Augustin, Quebec). 1947-57. Photo by William F. Stiles. Courtesy, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution
3. Kushkan and kushkaniapi, fish hooks and lines, made of wood and string. Peenamin Mackenzie School collection
4. Model anapi – fish net for catching lake trout. Peenamin Mackenzie School collection
5. Kushkan and kushkaniapi, fish hooks and lines, made of wood, nails and sinew or babiche. Peenamin Mackenzie School collection
6. Kushkan, fish hook, carved of bone. The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division, Newfoundland and Labrador

Fleshing tool, scraper, beamer

1. Tshipesh (Elizabeth) Noah uses a pashkuatshikan (beamer) to remove fur from a caribou hide. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
2. Akat Rich using a mitshikun (scraper) to scrape a caribou hide. 1966-68. Photo Georg Henriksen
3. Mitshikun/fleshing tool. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
4. Beamer/pashkuatshikan. Peenamin Mackenzie School collection
5. Mitshikun/mitshikuai. Tool for scraping caribou hides. Peenamin Mackenzie School collection
6. Mitshikuai/mitshikun. Fleshing tool. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
7. Curved bone skin cleaner. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
8. Part of a small mitshikuan (scraper) excavated in Sheshatshiu (East locus of JfCa-51). 2023. Photo courtesy of Anthony Jenkinson.
9. Woman cleaning a caribou skin. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
10. Woman using mitshikun with bone handle to scrape a caribou skin. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
11. Woman using 2-handed pashkuatshikan (beamer) to clean caribou skin. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
12. Pinamen fleshing caribou with bone-handled mitshikun (scraper). 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)

Dog Harness

1. Dog harness. The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
2. Traveling by dog team over the ice. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
3. Travelling by dog team. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
4. Harnessed dogs take a break. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
5. Several families travel by dog team. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
6. Dog whip with wooden handle. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
7. Leather dog trace and bone button. Hide string is plaited. Peenamin Mackenzie School collection
8. Two girls and a dog. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
9. Boy playing with a puppy in a Libby’s box. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
10. Two puppies in tent doorway. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
11. Dogs feeding under the scaffold. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
12. Harnessing a dog. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
13. Twelve dogs pull family on sled. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen

Cup and pin game

1. Cup and pin game, made of four cone-shaped cups made from caribou leg bone, threaded on thong, sewn at one end to narrow doe-skin bag, and at other end knotted to a 2″ bone spike or pin. The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
2. Tapanikan/tapaikan. Cup and pin game. One pin and caribou phalanges. Peenamin Mackenzie School collection
3. Tapanikan/tapaikan. Pin and boughs/cup and pin game. Bundle of fir twigs is tied with string to make the cup. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
4. bone, threaded on thong, sewn at one end to narrow doe-skin bag, and at other end knotted to a 2″ bone spike or pin. The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador 

Crooked knife

1. Shushepish (Joe) Rich carving snowshoe frames with a mukutakan (crooked knife). 1966-68.Photo by Georg Henriksen
2. Innu man using his mukutakan to cut caribou meat off a caribou leg bone. 1966-68. Photo Georg Henriksen
3. Crooked knife. Photo courtesy of University of Pennsylvania Museum
4. Crooked knife. Musée ilnu de Masheuiatsh
5. Kelly Rich examines knife made of red quartzite at Sheshatshiu archaeology dig. The knife may have functioned as a draw knife similar to the mukutan or crooked knife still used today. 2024. Photo courtesy of Anthony Jenkinson

Corral

1. Corral country in the interior barrens of northern Labrador. Photo courtesy of Peter Armitage
2. Model caribou corral, The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
3. Caribou hauled back to the camp. !966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
4. Woman skinning and gutting a caribou. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
5. Caribou hunt. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
6. Innu men cutting up carcasses after slaughter of 32 caribou. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
7. Shushepish (Joe) Rich with 2 caribou. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
8. Cutting up the caribou after the hunt. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
9. Unkweyo cutting up the caribou after the hunt. 1927-28. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)

Canoe

1. Canoe (nailed variety). The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division, Newfoundland and Labrador
2. Pien Penashue and Pien Toma working on a katshishtashkuatet canoe at Sheshatshiu. 1963. Photo courtesy of José Mailhot
3. Pien Penashue bending canoe ribs. 2002. Photo courtesy of Peter Armitage
4. A birch bark canoe on the beach by an Innu camp near Sheshatshiu, Labrador. 1891. Photo by Rupert Baxter. Courtesy of the Memorial University Labrador Campus Archive and Peary-Macmillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College
5. Two unidentified Innu women working on a canoe near Sheshatshiu, Labrador. 1891. Photo by Rupert Baxter. Courtesy of the Memorial University Labrador Campus Archive and the Peary-Macmillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College
6. Alistair Pone, one of Pien Penashue’s apprentices, stands proudly beside the prototype of his first canoe completed in the fall 2005. Photo by Alexander Andrew
7. Canoe-building in Sheshatshiu. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
8. The late Meshkana (Sam Rich) and family near Utshimassits (Davis Inlet) 1927-28. Photo courtesay of Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College
9. Innu canoes under construction at Sheshatshiu. 1921. Photo courtesy of National Research Council Canada
10. Canoe on the beach at Innu camp. Mishta-natuashish. 1963. Photo by Hans Hvide Bang. Courtesy of Erik Sandberg Ingstad, Ingstad Archives and the Norwegian National Library
11. Epa (Nympha) Byrne paddling to go check her net. 2013. Mishta-natuashish. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard
12. Shuash (George) Gregoire and grandson Mario paddling the Mishta-shipu (Churchill River) on a Tshaukuesh (Elizabeth) Penashue canoe expedition. Elizabeth Penashue family collection
13. An-Pinamen (Ann Philomena) Pokue and Tshaukuesh (Elizabeth) Penashue on canoe with Innu Nation flag, during canoe expedition to protest the hydro development at Tshiashku-paushtik (Gull Island). Tshaukuesh Penashue family collection
14. Innu arrive by canoe at Mishti Uait’s (Richard White’s) store at Emish. 1930. Photo Judy-Pauline Hunter White. Courtesy of Alika Podolinksy Webber fonds and Library and Archives Canada\
15. Innu hauling canoe on komatik pulled by dog team near Emish. 1930-45. Photo by Judy-Pauline White. Courtesy of Alika Podolinsky Webber and Library and Archives Canada
16. Old film footage of Innu people taken by or for Monsignor Edward Joseph O’Brien between 1921 and 1946. Footage courtesy Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Falls, Newfoundland, and The Rooms, Provincial Archives Division

Bow and arrow

1. The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
2. Bow (model), Peenamin McKenzie School
collection
3. Tshishenish (James) Pasteen taking a shot with a bow and arrow. 1963. Photo by Hans Hvide Bang. Courtesy of Erik Sandberg Ingstad, Ingstad Archives and the Norwegian National Library
4. Shushepish (Joe) Rich shooting bow. 1927-8. The second Rawson-Macmillan Subarctic Expedition. Courtesy of Field Museum of Natural History (Anthropology)
5. Bird arrow. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
6. Bird arrow. The Rooms. Provincial Museum Division. Newfoundland and Labrador
7. Boy with bow and arrow plays with his friends in nutshimiu camp. 1966. Photo by Georg Henriksen
8. Boy with bow and arrow plays with his friends in nutshimiu camp. 1966. Photo by Georg Henriksen
9. Trying out the bow and arrow. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
10. Nuk with bow and arrow, 1927-8. Photo by Donald Baxter MacMillan. Courtesy of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Musuem and Arctic Studies Center, Bowdoin College. 3000.33.254

 

People and Places

1. Natuashish boys Oliver Piwas , Sam Tshakapesh, Evan Rich, Sylvester Rich on boys’ walking expedition. 2023. Photo by Nachelle Poker
2. The late Sam Napeo and Greg Penashue, at an international gathering at Uhu-neiau, regarding the Innu campaign against NATO military flight training over Nitassinan. 1985. Photo by Camille Fouillard
3. Antuan in a ueuepishun. 1989. Louis and Mary Adele Penashue camp in the Kamashkushkatinau-nipi region. 1989. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard
4. Innu communities map. Courtesy of Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education
5. Mother with Child, painting by Mary Ann Penashue. 2023. Photo courtesy of Christina Parker Gallery
6. Joachim Selma, walker on Michel (Giant) Andrew walking expedition. 2010. Photo courtesy of Alex Andrew.
7. Grandmother teaching her granddaughter how to cut moccasins from caribou hide. 1963. Sheshatshiu. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber and the Canadian Museum of History

Innu communities

1. Illustrated map of Nitassinan produced by Mamu Tshishkutamashutau. Place names compiled during Innu Nation land use research with many elders from Utshimassits/Nataushish and Sheshatshiu. Additional research conducted by Chelsee Arbour and Jolene Ashini with Etienne and Janet Pone, Napess Ashini, Jodie Ashini, Angela and Etienne Andrew, Apatet Andrew Joachim and Mary Jane Nui, Akat Piwas, Damien Benuen and Sebastien Piwas. Artwork by Jolene Ashini. Design by Vessala Brakalova. The map was produced as a poster, puzzle and floor map.

Innu artists:

1. Mary Ann Penashue with her painting Ceremonial Walk Out. 2023. Photo courtesy of Anthony Germain and CBC
2. Painting by Mary Ann Penashue. Photo courtesy of Christina Parker Gallery
3. The White Caribou. Painting by Mary Ann Penashue. Photo courtesy of Christina Parker Gallery
4. Painting by Mary Ann Penashue. 2005
5. Christine Poker learning to use a camera with the late Manteshkueu (Mary Georgette) Mistenapeo and Marjorie Beaucage. Davis Inlet. 1995. Photo courtesy of the Innu Nation
6. Christine takes a shot. Photo courtesy of Christine Poker
7. Image from Christine Poker’s film Etatshimakant Atsheauass – The Legend of the Cannibal Boys. 2020
8. Image from Christine Poker’s film Etashimakant Kakanenepatat – The Legend of the Boy who Could not Kill Animals. 2022

Stories from Youth

1. Looking out the tent. Gull Island Gathering 2023. Photo by Camille Fouillard
2. Youth at nutshimiu camp, Iatuekupau (Park Lake). Photo by Navarana Tretina
3. Innu tents under the Northern Lights. 2023. Photo by Nachelle Poker
4. 2019. Photo by Camille Fouillard
5. Boreal forest. Photo by Camille Fouillard
6. Moody skies. Photo by Camille Fouillard
7. Nutshimiu camp. 1966. Photo by Georg Henriksen
8. 1985. Photo by Camille Fouillard
9. Baby tea doll. Photo courtesy of Peenamin Mackenzie School collection

 Stories from Elders

1. Kaniuekutat (John Poker). 1992. Davis Inlet. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard
2. Shimun (Simon) Michel. Sheshatshiu. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard
3. Manian (Ashini) Michel. Sheshatshiiu. Photo courtesy of the Innu Nation
4. Francis Benuen (Mishta-Pinashue). Photo by Tom Green
5. Matinen (Madeline) Michelin. Photo courtesy of the Innu Nation
6. Shuashin (Joachim) Nui. Photo courtesy of the Innu Nation
7. Etuat (Edward) Mistenapeo. Photo courtesy of Tom Green
8. Tshishennish (James) Pasteen. Photo courtesy of Frank Ward
9. Anishen (Angela Katshinak) Rich. Photo courtesy of Tom Green
10. Sheshin (Cecile) Rich. Photo courtesy of Nympha Byrne
11. Uniam (William) Katshinak. Photo courtesy of Nympha Byrne
12. Pinamen (Philomena) Katshinak. Photo by Nympha Byrne
13. Munik (Monique) Rich, Photo by Nachelle Poker
14. Nishapet (Elizabeth) Rich. Photo by Camille Fouillard
15. Matinen (Madeline) Rich. Photo by Nympha Byrne
16. Pien Penashue. Photo by Peter Sibbald
17. Matinen (Madeline) Katshinak. Photo by Nympha Byrnes
18. Akat Piwas. Photo by Bailey White. Courtesy of Manishan Piwas and CBC

 

Glossary:

1. 2024. Photo courtesy of Nachelle Poker
2. Man with 2 foxes. 1966-68. Photo by Georg Henriksen
3. Berry picking grounds near Natuashish. 2022
4. Mishta-shipu. Photo courtesy of Innu Nation
5. Natuashish sunset. 2022. Photo courtesy of Camille Fouillard
6. Sheshatshiu photo. circa 1960s. Photographer unknown.
7. Sweat lodge frame at Kameshtashten. 2024. Photo courtesy of Navarana Tretina 

 

Resources:

1. Beading moccasins. Sheshatshiu. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber and the Canadian Museum of History
2. Let’s Talk Innu: Community culture and language forum, Sheshatshiu. 2024. Photo courtesy of Sheshatshiu Innu School
3. Aldea Piwas teaching language and culture. Natuashish. 2024. Photo courtesy of Nachelle Poker

 

Credits:

1. Children watch masked man with glee. 1963. Photo courtesy of Ray Webber
2. Innu protest again NATO military flight training, 1988, photo courtesy of Bob Bartel.
3. Sheshatshiu Innu School fishing expedition. 2024. Photo courtesy of the school.
4. Mushuau Innu Natuashish School hunting expedition. 2024. Photo courtesy of the school.

 

Sitemap:

1. Natuashish women’s walking expedition. 2023. Photo courtesy of Navarana Tretina

 

Copyright

The content of tipatshimuna.ca is freely available to the public. The website was originally created in 2005 by the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN), an agency with the Department of Canadian Heritage.  In 2020, copyright on the site was transferred to the Rooms, Newfoundland and Labrador’s museum, archives and gallery. The Rooms subsequently transferred copyright to Mamu Tshishkutamashutau – Innu Education (Innu Nation), now responsible for maintaining, upgrading and updating the site.  New agreements were signed with partners and collaborators. Content contributors, including the Innu Nation, as well as identified artists and photographers, retain copyright on their images, illustrations, designs, icons, photographs, video clips, and written and other materials.  Express permission from the indicated copyright owners is required if you wish to modify, copy, reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute the material in any way for any purposes except for private research or study.

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