Berry basket harnesses, date unknown, Collection of Glenbow. Gift of the Devonian Foundation, 1979.

Collections Feature: Autumn Equinox

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Fall is here, and as the leaves start to turn, we’re excited to begin a new series on our blog written by Mackenzie Brown, Glenbow’s Executive Advisor, Indigenous Engagement. This special new series will focus on the four seasons and their meanings within Indigenous communities. Read on for Mackenzie’s exploration of food and fall.

As the leaves change, the birds start to head south, and our plant relatives prepare for sleep, we move into the season of autumn. The autumn equinox is a significant time in which many Indigenous communities across Turtle Island (a name some Indigenous communities use for what is also currently known as North America) pause to reflect on the gifts of summer and give thanks to the harvest of fall.

For many Indigenous Nations across Turtle Island, autumn is a reminder of transformation and preparation for winter. In what is currently known as Canada, winters can be harsh and long. Indigenous Nations often spent summers hunting and gathering berries, medicines, and meat. During fall, preparation and preservation of these foods became paramount for surviving the winter to come. 

Basket, date unknown, Collection of Glenbow.
Basket, date unknown, Collection of Glenbow.
Basket, date unknown, Collection of Glenbow.
Basket, date unknown, Collection of Glenbow.

Seasonality is a central part of gathering, hunting, and preservation for many Indigenous communities. Gathering berries in the summer and drying them in the fall was an important step toward food preparation.

Shown above is a Cree berry basket used for gathering berries. Baskets were made using materials from the land — often birch woven together with other types of bark, with handles made of hide. I like that you can still see the stains from berries in this basket.

Berry basket harnesses (detail), date unknown, Collection of Glenbow. Gift of the Devonian Foundation, 1979.
Berry basket harnesses (detail), date unknown, Collection of Glenbow. Gift of the Devonian Foundation, 1979.

Harvesting food can be hard work! To help with carrying the weight of berries and other medicines, many communities would make beautiful carriers or harnesses to help with transportation.

Seen here are two Coast Salish harnesses for holding berry baskets. One harness has a wool band with alternating red and black triangles in groups of three and a turquoise centre. The other has a wool and twine band with green, grey, and rust triangles, plus black, orange, and red sections at the ends. Both harnesses have rawhide ties.

Once berries were dried and meat-bearing animals were hunted and processed, pemmican making would occur. Pemmican varies depending on the region, the Nation, and what is edible and available. It can be made with fish and ungulates (hooved animals like deer, elk, and bison), and a variety of berries and fats. It is highly dense in nutrients and has a very long shelf life. Pemmican is a culinary staple for Indigenous communities and is a vitally important source of sustenance in harsh climates.

To make pemmican, meat would first be dried. Using a stone pounder, meat and berries would be pounded together and mixed with melted fat. This created a high protein and high energy food to sustain families during the winter months.

It is amazing to think about how seasonal changes dictated actions of Indigenous Peoples. Recognizing seasonal changes is still vitally important in a modern-day context for Indigenous communities. As we move into a new season — one of transformation, gratitude, and preparation — we invite you to reflect on what this new season might mean for you.

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