Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Number of items: 55
The Edgar Dewdney Collection
Plains items donated:
25/1920/2 - headdress
25/1920/32 - saddle
25/1920/3 - beadwork
25/1920/34 - tomahawk
25/1920/4 - moccasins
25/1920/35 - club
25/1920/5 - moccasins
25/1920/36 - club
25/1920/6 - moccasins
25/1920/37 - club
25/1920/7 - moccasins
25/1920/38 - arrow
25/1920/9 - moccasins
25/1920/39 - arrow
25/1920/13 - pouch
25/1920/40 - arrow
25/1920/14 - pouch
25/1920/41 - arrow
25/1920/15 - pouch
25/1920/42 - arrow
25/1920/16 - pouch
25/1920/43 - arrow
25/1920/20 – knife and
sheath
25/1920/44 - arrow
25/1920/21 - sheath
25/1920/23 - sheath
25/1920/24 - cuffs
25/1920/25 - bag
25/1920/26 - cloth
25/1920/28 - leggings
25/1920/29 - leggings
25/1920/31 - pouch
25/1920/45 - arrow
25/1920/46 - arrow
25/1920/47 - arrow
25/1920/48 - arrow
25/1920/49 - arrow
25/1920/51 - pipe
25/1920/52 - horsewhip
70/1927/23 - pouch
70/1927/24 - pouch
Page 1 of 43
70/1927/27 – beaded
element
70/1927/28 – beaded
element
70/1927/29 – beaded
element
70/1927/30 – beaded
element
70/1927/31 - sheath
70/1927/32 – awl case
70/1927/32a - awl
70/1927/33 – awl case
70/1927/34 – awl case
70/1927/35 - saddle
70/1927/36 - tassel
70/1927/37 - tassel
70/1927/38 – tassel
212/1996/8 - moccasins
83/2004 - photograph
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Headdress
Accession Number: 25/1920/2
Dimensions: 1845mm
Provenance: Northern Plains
Notes:
Page 2 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Beadwork
Accession Number: 25/1920/3
Dimensions: l.708 x w.60mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 3 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Moccasins
Accession Number: 25/1920/4
Dimensions:
Provenance: Northern Plains
Notes:
Page 4 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Moccasins
Accession Number: 25/1920/5
Dimensions: l. 225mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
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Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Moccasins
Accession Number: 25/1920/6
Dimensions: l. 250mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 6 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Moccasins
Accession Number: 25/1920/7
Dimensions: l.265mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 7 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Moccasins
Accession Number: 25/1920/9
Dimensions: l.250mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 8 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Pouch
Accession Number: 25/1920/13
Dimensions: l.205 x w.77mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 9 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Pouch
Accession Number: 25/1920/14
Dimensions: l.135 x w.100mm
Provenance: Plains?
Notes:
Page 10 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Pouch
Accession Number: 25/1920/15
Dimensions:
Provenance: Plains?
Notes:
Page 11 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Pouch
Accession Number: 25/1920/16
Dimensions: l.117 x w.87mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 12 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Knife and Sheath
Accession Number: 25/1920/20
Dimensions: knife l.342mm, sheath l.379mm
Provenance: Northern Plains
Notes:
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Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Sheath
Accession Number: 25/1920/21
Dimensions:
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 14 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Sheath
Accession Number: 25/1920/23
Dimensions: l.236mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 15 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Cuffs
Accession Number: 25/1920/24
Dimensions: l.310 x w.108mm
Provenance: Northern Plains
Notes:
Page 16 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Bag
Accession Number: 25/1920/25
Dimensions: l.240 x w.180mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
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Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Cloth
Accession Number: 25/1920/26
Dimensions: l.1350 x w.192mm
Provenance: Plains?
Notes:
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Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Leggings
Accession Number: 25/1920/28
Dimensions:
Provenance: Plains?
Notes:
Page 19 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Leggings
Accession Number: 25/1920/29
Dimensions: l.740 x w.260mm
Provenance: Plains?
Notes:
Page 20 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Pouch
Accession Number: 25/1920/31
Dimensions: l.106mm
Provenance:
Notes:
Page 21 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Saddle
Accession Number: 25/1920/32
Dimensions:
Provenance: Northern Plains
Notes:
Page 22 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Tomahawk
Accession Number: 25/1920/34
Dimensions: l.577mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 23 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Club
Accession Number: 25/1920/35
Dimensions: l.617mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 24 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Club
Accession Number: 25/1920/36
Dimensions: l.754mm
Provenance: Northern Plains
Notes:
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Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Club
Accession Number: 25/1920/37
Dimensions: l.855mm
Provenance: Northern Plains
Notes:
Page 26 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Number of items: 55
Item Name: Arrows
Accession Number: 25/1920/38 - 25/1920/49
Dimensions: l.705mm, 659mm, 690mm, 698mm, 700mm, 770mm, 741mm, 700mm, 761mm, 755mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 27 of 43
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Pipe
Accession Number: 25/1920/51
Dimensions: l.165 x w.75mm
Provenance: Northern Plains
Notes:
Page 28 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Horsewhip
Accession Number: 25/1920/52
Dimensions: handle l.318mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 29 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Pouch
Accession Number: 70/1927/23
Dimensions: l.185 x w.69mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 30 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Pouch
Accession Number: 70/1927/24
Dimensions: l.73 x w.74mm
Provenance: Northern Plains
Notes:
Page 31 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Beaded Elements
Accession Number: 70/1927/27 and 70/1927/28
Dimensions: dia.115mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 32 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Beaded Elements
Accession Number: 70/1927/29 and 70/1927/30
Dimensions: dia.85mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 33 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Sheath
Accession Number: 70/1927/31
Dimensions: whole exc. l.223mm, whole w.66mm
Provenance: Plains?
Notes:
Page 34 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Awl case
Accession Number: 70/1927/32
Dimensions: l.203 x w.35mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 35 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Number of items: 55
Item Name: Awl, awl cases
Accession Number: 70/1927/32a, 33 and 34
Dimensions: l.181 x w.23mm, l.161mm without tassel and l.140mm without tassel
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 36 of 43
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Saddle
Accession Number: 70/1927/35
Dimensions: l.175 x w.56mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 37 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Tassel
Accession Number: 70/1927/36, 37 and 38
Dimensions: l.320mm, l.235mm and l.235mm
Provenance: Plains
Notes:
Page 38 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Item Name: Photograph
Accession Number: 83/2004
Dimensions: l.108 x w.165mm
Provenance: Northern Plains, Canada
Notes:
Page 39 of 43
Number of items: 55
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Number of items: 55
Existing captions for this collection
25/1920/2
Blackfoot. Head-dress of eagle feathers with a long trade cloth tail, and mounted with buffalo horns.
Collected 1859 -1917 by Edgar Dewdney. Born in Bideford in 1835, Dewdney trained as a civil engineer. He
moved to Canada in his twenties and became a surveyor, politician, office holder and lieutenant governor.
The head-dress listed in 1904 as having been bought from Denny has not been identified in the collections,
although it can be seen in photographs taken early in the 20th century (see text panel). The head-dress
shown here, collected by Edgar Dewdney, appears to resemble it. Only men of high rank wore buffalo horns
on their head-dresses. The horns conferred the power of the buffalo bulls upon the wearer. The eagle
feathers were symbols of power and liberty. Collected between 1859 and 1916.
25/1920/3
A beadwork strip couched to a hide backing. This was intended to decorate a shirt or one of a pair
of leggings.
25/1920/4
The stepped beadwork design, signifying mountains, is a motif often used by the Blackfoot. The canvas cuffs
are faced with fine red trade cloth suggesting a late 19th century date, as European-American cloth was used
in place of animal hide when game was no longer available to the Plains tribes.
25/1920/5
Beaded with machine-tooled leather soles, the leather was re-used from an item of European make. Before
the Europeans introduced glass beads, dyed quill was used to decorate clothing.
25/1920/6
Cheyenne. Glass bead decorated hide moccasins. Acquired by Edgar Dewdney after 1879, a time when the
buffalo were being destroyed and native people were being moved onto reserves. Beadwork reached a peak
during the Reservation period in the late 19th century.
25/1920/7
The Tsuu T’ina were previously known as the Sarsi, or Sarcee, and were allies of the Blackfoot in the 19th
century. Edgar Dewdney’s brother-in-law was Indian Agent on the Sarcee Reserve for several years, and
these moccasins may have been collected by him.
25/1920/10
Moccasins with Norway House style silk thread embroidery to vamp and collar.
25/1920/12
Page 40 of 43
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Number of items: 55
A pouch made of hide with European glass bead flower and leaf design. The beads are strung with sinew and
couched with cotton thread. A large multifaceted green glass bead serves as a button (one is missing).
Described by the donor as being a money bag.
25/1920/15
A hide pouch decorated with beadwork on the front and dangling fringes of metal cones. In a 1920 letter the
donor referred to this item as a ‘money bag’.
25/1920/20
A warrior’s hunting knife with an iron blade set into a wooden handle, which is fixed with four rivets. The
sheath is decorated with European glass beads, threaded and sewn with imported cotton thread.
25/1920/21
Made using commercially tanned leather, which was possibly cut from a suitcase (holes from the lines of
machines stitching are evident). This item was acquired from the warriors of a Blackfoot chief.
25/1920/23
This sheath once belonged to one of the warriors of Tatan’ka-iyo’take or Chief Sitting Bull, the famous
Hunkpapa shaman and leader.
25/1920/25
Made entirely from scraps of European-American traded goods, this bag is testament to the scarcity of
traditional materials in the Plains region in the late 19th century. By that time the buffalo had been
decimated and Native American people were herded onto reservations, with no opportunity to hunt.
25/1920/26
Length of scarlet trade cloth with a beadwork design of horse tracks. This cloth makes use of both woven
blue selvedge stripes and ‘saved lists’ (see Glossary) as a decorative feature.
25/1920/27
Tahltan. Leggings of red ‘Stroud’ cloth bordered with black and decorated with beads. The black cloth is of a
coarser weave than the red wool and does not have a raised nap. European-American produced printed
cotton cloth lines the cuffs.
25/1920/32
Padded with buffalo wool deerskin pad saddles were used by various Plains people. They were also popular
trade items. Men often rode bareback but a pad saddle provided more comfort on longer journeys.
25/1920/34
These weapons were made in Europe for trade to Native Americans. Originally the word ‘tomahawk’
referred to a group of weapons used by the Algonquian of the eastern United States, known by them as
tomahack or tomachick. The Mahican word was Tumnahecan.
Page 41 of 43
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Number of items: 55
25/1920/35
The haft is decorated with panels of beads and bands of braided brown and white horsehair. This club once
belonged to one of the warriors of Tatan’ka-iyo’take (Sitting Bull).
25/1920/36
Hand to hand warfare, common among all Plains peoples, was waged according to codes of honour.
25/1920/37
As above
25/1920/51
A catlinite pipe bowl. Pipe smoking among Native American peoples was usually ceremonial practice. Pipes
had a supernatural potency only when the stem and the bowl were joined together.
25/1920/52
Handles of quirts were often made of elk horn. This handle is decorated with a row of iron screws along its
length. A small piece of red trade cloth is bound onto the hide strips of the whip with sinew.
212/1996/8
Made at a time when the buffalo were being destroyed and native peoples were being moved onto reserves.
Beadwork reached a peak during the Reservation Period from 1880 onwards.
83/2004
Born around 1830 in southern Alberta into the Kainaiwa (Blood) Nation. After his father died his mother remarried into the Siksika (Blackfoot) Nation. An astute warrior, leader and diplomat, Crowfoot became a
Siksika chief, establishing friendly relations with white fur-traders and missionaries. He trusted the NWMP
because they helped the Siksika in curbing inter-tribal warfare and in controlling the sale of alcohol to his
people. At the treaty signing, each confederacy leader ‘signed’ by touching the pen before an ‘x’ was made
against their name. It is interesting to note that Crowfoot failed to touch the pen before his mark was made.
In his lifetime Crowfoot had several wives. Of his many children, only four survived. His adopted son,
Poundmaker, died suddenly in 1886, the year this photograph was taken. Crowfoot passed away four years
later, in 1890. This formal studio photograph shows Isapo-muxika wearing a combination of Siksika and
European clothing. The derby hat, decorated with an eagle plume, was a gift he received in 1866 from
employees at Fort Edmonton when he defended traders from the fort in a volatile situation involving
another Siksika chief. Around his neck he wears the commemorative medal presented to him at the signing
of Treaty 7.
Page 42 of 43
Edgar Dewdney Collection
Northern Plains and Plains
Dewdney Accession Register
Page 43 of 43
Number of items: 55