A bag worth a pony The art of the Ojibwe bandolier bag

Bright red, green, and blue beads in geometric and floral patterns on shoulder bags being danced by Ojibwe men. This is what the reader first sees when opening Minnesota Historical Society curator Anderson's wonderful new book about the gashkibidaaganag (Anishinaabe beaded bags) held in the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society. One can quickly see why Anderson has worked with these culturally significant pieces for over 30 years, and how her dedicated research has produced sophisticated and nuanced scholarship as well as a model for how museum collections can be fruitfully reanalyzed so readers can hear the history and continuing cultural vitality of Native peoples. As Anderson deftly demonstrates, the pieces communicate much about Ojibwe culture, how art is used on a daily basis and in special events, the historical experiences of each community, Anishinaabe-Euroamerican economic and political relations, and how the storied bags moved from makers to a museum. The book's second half contains fascinating stories from knowledgeable individuals and beadwork artists residing at 12 different Anishinaabe communities. These stories are as important as the bags, for they show that the bags are living expressions of Anishinaabe culture. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All public and academic levels/libraries. --Nancy J. Parezo, University of Arizona

The Great Lakes region of North America is home to the Ojibwe people and their many bands, comprising one of the largest groups of indigenous people north of the Rio Grande. Their contributions to Native American craft include birch bark canoes and quill and bead work. Anderson, who for 30 years was curator of the Minnesota Historical Society's three-dimensional collections, has created a well-researched, beautifully illustrated history of the bandolier bags of the Ojibwe people. Known as gashkibidaaganag in the Ojibwe language, these bags are made from elaborate beadwork and represented status within the tribe. The bags, with a wide beaded strap to be worn across the body, were created mostly by women but worn by men during significant events and ceremonies. While one bag showed status, two bags with straps crossed over the chest was a symbol of great importance. The beadwork was elaborate with different motifs: flowers, geometric patterns, and symbols associated with the tribe. There are numerous color illustrations of bags, both historical and contemporary, and many photographs of Ojibwe proudly wearing them. VERDICT A wonderful introduction to an aspect of Native American art many may not be aware of.-Sandra Knowles, South Carolina State Lib., Columbia © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.