Daughter of Mi-Gisins (Little Eagle) Holding Feather Staff

Daughter of Mi-Gisins (Little Eagle) Holding Feather Staff

Jane Walters at White Earth June 14th Celebration

BAE GN 00596C08 06155700

Jane Walters inside tent wearing strap dress ensemble with floral beadwork and holding a feather staff said to be an emblem of warrior victory.

Frances Densmore

1908

Anishinaabe

White Earth, MN

A similar image taken at the same time is in the MNHS collection, where the subject is identified as Mrs. George Walters (I.364.11). Densmore took these photographs during her fieldwork at the June 14th Celebration at White Earth in 1908. This was among the earliest of Densmore's fieldwork activities. Jane Walters of Leech Lake, MN, AKA Shaw Wash E Quey, was the daughter of Mi-Gisins (Little Eagle) and the wife of George Walters. She no doubt participated in the lace-making program at Leech Lake, while at the same time she remained embedded in traditional customs, being chosen to carry the eagle staff at the White Earth June 14th Celebration and always seen wearing a strap dress. This is one of six photographs of Jane Walters found at three different institutions. Follow the links in the Relations field to see the others.

Frances Densmore created this image while conducting fieldwork at White Earth.

At MNHS: An 8x10 print version forms part of the White Earth Indian Reservation photograph collection, I.364.

Mrs. George Walters and Mary, Dressed for White Earth Celebration. Portrait of Mrs. George Walters, White Earth Indian Reservation Jane Walters and Companion Demonstrating Lacemaking at the 1904 Worlds Fair

Jane Walters (AKA Mrs. George Walters, Shaw Wash E Quey)

Cory Willmott. 2021. Decolonizing the Museum to Reclaim and Revitalize the Anishinaabe Strap Dress. Winterthur Portfolio 55(2/3): 160-3.

Still Image

47.22759, -95.72049 (N 47°13′39″ W 95°43′14″)

Glass negative

005 in x 007 in