Sling shot

Name (French): lance-pierre
Name (Innu): kautshishu / kashipissipanit
Date Collected: July, 1986
Institutions: The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division
Catalog Number: III-B-207
Place Made: probably Seal Lake, Labrador
Maker: unknown
Collector: Stephen Loring

Description:

Slingshots made from a forked branch stripped of bark, with rubber strips on each side and leather pocket for projectile tied to rubber in centre, with pieces of shoelace. Rubber tied to stick with fishing line.

References:

Peter Armitage fieldnotes, 30 September 2002. MacKenzie Shoebox dictionary 2003. Lynn Drapeau. 1999. Dictionnaire Montagnais-français. Sainte-Foy: Presses de l’Université du Québec.

Innu Narrative:

“This is kautishut (slingshot).” Sheshin (Rich) Rich

“Yes, slingshots. Kautashut.” Pinashue Benuen

Other Info:

“Picked up Alistair on the way down to Uhuniau yesterday. On the way, we spotted a grouse. We got out of car in pursuit. Alistair had his slingshot – kashipassapant – which he made himself using Y-shaped wood, rubber (supplied by his friend, David Rich) and a leather sling. Keeps it in his pocket. Amazingly, he hit the grouse with his first shot, knocking it stunned to the ground from the tree where it had flushed. Actually, it took 2 shots to knock it down, but I believe both shots hit their mark. He delivered a final shot to the bird completely decapitating it. Minipuatum – he is a good shot.” Peter Armitage (fieldnotes, 30 September 2002)

Drapeau lists kashipissipalisht as “élastique, gallon élastique (elastic, elastic gallon).”

MacKenzie lists kashipissipanit and kautishut as “slingshot; rubber band.”