Tipatshimuna 
Description:
Caribou skin knife sheath, tapering at end to a point. Made from two equally sized pieces of skin sewn together with gut, a type of string found in animal intestines. Front painted with blue and red lines, horizontal at toe and concentric following sheath outline at bottom. Single thong (24 long and 0.333 wide) sewn to one upper corner.
References:
Naskapi dictionary. James W. VanStone. 1982. The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture From the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History. Fieldiana, Anthropology New Series No.5. James W. VanStone. 1985. Material Culture of the Davis Inlet and Barren Ground Naskapi: the William Duncan Strong Collection. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History. Fieldiana, Anthropology New Series No.7. Lynn Drapeau. 1999. Dictionnaire Montagnais-français. Sainte-Foy: Presses de l’Université du Québec.
Innu Narrative:
“I am wondering what I would call it? This is the first time I saw one like that. I am not sure what to call it. Is this pitakan-mukuman? Yes, that’s what it is – pitakan-mukuman (knife sheath).” Sheshin (Rich) Rich
“This is pitakan-mukuman (knife sheath) – Munik (Gregoire) Rich.
Nympha Bryne – “This is a knife sheath. What would you call it?”
Pinamen (Rich) Katshinak – “Pitakan-mukuman (knife sheath).”
“This is a knife sheath – pitakan-mukuman.” Etuat Mistenapeo
Other Info:
NNaskapi dictionary lists piihchiihkumaanaan as “knife case.”
Drapeau lists pitakan as “animal farci; farce; baloney, saucisson (A); cartouche de fabrication artisanale (I) (stuffed animal; stuffing; baloney, sausage (A); home-made cartridge.)”
“The collection contains two knife sheaths that may have been intended for a knife of the type just described [knife made from sharpened antler possibly used by women for cutting up meat] or an end-blade knife with a metal blade. One of these sheaths is made of two pieces of tanned caribou skin backed and edged with dark green printed cotton cloth. The sewing is with thread. On the front are beaded geometric designs, spot-stitched and thread-sewn, in red, blue, translucent green, and white beads. There is carrying strap of tanned caribou skin…The second sheath is also made of two pieces of tanned caribou skin and a strap of the same material, all sewn with thread. On the front is a design consisting of diamonds in red beads and a border of red and black beads, spot-stitched and thread-sewn; a cross in black beads is sewn on the back piece above the sheath opening.” VanStone (1985:23)
“A knife sheath, probably for an instrument with a metal blade, is made from a single piece of moose skin. A fringe of the same material has been sewn into the seam and there is a loop at the proximal end for attachment to a belt.” VanStone (1982:8)