In partnership with the Bata Shoe Museum, Carolyn and her team were given special access to the late Sonja Bata’s private collection of moccasin footwear, which happens to be the world’s largest circumpolar collection and the largest collection of moccasins from Turtle Island.
Through the support of renown artist Phil Cote, four moccasins were selected that linguistically represent First Nations in Ontario historically, as reflected in Treaty relationships: the Anishinaabe, the Huron Wendat, the Seneca and the Cree.
From there, the moccasins were hand drawn by Phil Cote and then transferred into stencils that could be used by people of all ages, as a fun, interactive and educational experience through which to ground their learnings and to reflect on their treaty relationship and responsibilities.
Seneca Mocassin
Date: 1850-1900
Culture: Amerind, Woodland
Tribe: Haudenosaunee
Research, Artist and Design by Philip Cote
Seneca live throughout the United States and Ontario today.
Anishnaabe Mocassin
Date: 1700-1799
Culture: Amerind, Woodland
Tribe: Anishnaabe
Research, Artist and Design by Philip Cote
Anishnaabe live throughout Ontario today.
Wendat Mocassin
Date: 1830
Culture: Amerind, Woodland
Tribe: Huron
Research, Artist and Design by Philip Cote
Huron-Wendat live in Eastern Ontario and Quebec today.
Cree Mocassin
Date: 1830
Culture: Anishinaabe
Tribe: Cree
Research, Artist and Design by Philip Cote
Cree live in Northern Ontario today.
The Bata Shoe Museum remains an ongoing and supportive partner to the Moccasin Identifier to this day.
