Ojibway Snowshoes

Snowshoes for winter travel were almost universal among native people in Canada. The Athapaskans of the West and Algonquians of the Northeast made the most sophisticated snowshoes. Frames were generally made of ash wood, and lacing from deer, caribou and moose hide. The toe and tail sections of the shoe were laced with a light babiche and the central body with a heavy babiche for better weight suspension. The moccasin is also the traditional snowshoe footwear. Much Indian folklore is centred on the snowshoe. The Ojibway celebrated the first snowfall of the winter with a snowshoe dance.