Montagnais woman’s decorated pouch

Traditionally Montagnais women used tanned hides and fur skins to make the family’s clothes. Later, new materials, available at trading posts, were integrated into older forms. Creativity sparked by new materials continued into the 20th century with the adoption of cotton, wool, and felt cloth, ribbon tapes, and glass buttons. These new styles of hats, pouches, and bags were both functional and fashionable.