Ojibwe Bandolier Bag

Ojibwe beaded bandolier bag (aazhooningwa'on, meaning 'worn across shoulder' in Ojibwe), composed of glass seed beads sewn onto tan cotton cloth with a dark green cotton backing and bordered in red satin ribbon edging. The front pouch and wide strap are richly decorated with floral motifs in polychrome beads set against a white beaded background. The lower edge is finished in red yarn tassels and faceted glass bead strands, forming a decorative fringe.

Bandolier bags of this type were created by Anishinaabe and related Great Lakes peoples in the 19th Century, inspired by ammunition cartridge pouches carried by European soliders. While men traditionally wore them diagonally across the body as symbols of wealth and status, the beadwork itself was the artistic achievement of women, whose intricate floral designs reflected both regional identity and exceptional craftsmanship. 40"L x 12"W

The Ojibwe people can be found through Ontario and into Montana. The name “Ojibwe” (meaning “puckered up”) was given to them by other tribes, referencing their traditional moccasins with a puckered seam on top. The Ojibwe call themselves “Anishinaabeg”, meaning “True People.” Archaeological and linguistic evidence along with tribal oral tradition suggests that Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi all originated from the same tribe and eventually split into three different groups.