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Snowshoes
When carrying snowshoes inside or outside a dwelling, they must be held facing the opposite direction. This means that your snowshoes will bring you back home safely when you go on a journey.
People were always careful ᐁᑳ ᒋᒨᓂᓈᐯᐅᔮᑦ / ᐋᑳ ᐋᒋᒧᓂᓈᐹᐅᔮᑦ not to leave them out in the rain. If exposed to moisture, the slanted (top) part of the snowshoe can straighten, affecting its shape and performance.
It is important to make sure that the snowshoes are dry when they are not in use; if the lacing is exposed to moisture long enough, the lacing eventually hardens and dries up, and it can easily crack and break.
When taking a break while walking with snowshoes, you must face them towards the sun ᐋᔥᑕᒫᑌᑳᐳᐦᐧᐁᐤ / ᐋᔥᑎᒫᔅᑖᑳᐳᐦᐧᐋᐤ to dry them while you rest and to dust off any snow on the lacing ᐁᐦ ᐳᐦᐳᐧᐋᐯᑲᐦᐧᐋᑦ / ᐋᐦᐳᐦᐧᐋᐹᑯᐦᐧᐋᑦ.
To prevent snow from sticking on the lacing, ᐁᐦ ᐊᐧᑳᑯᓀᑦ / ᐋᐦᐧᑳᑯᓈᑦ a thick bag was used wiihkui ᐧᐄᐦᑯᐃ / ᐧᐃᔨᑯᐃ wiyikui . This bag was found along the inside of a sturgeon. Once the bag has been dried, they cut it up and boil it. Once it is boiled, the liquid is applied onto the lacing using a ptarmigan feather or a rabbit’s foot to rub it onto the lacing part of the snowshoes to keep it oily ᐊᔓᐯᑲᐦᐧᐋᑦ / ᔔᐹᑭᐦᐧᐋᑦ.
To decorate the lacing of the snowshoes ᐁᐦ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐋᐯᑦ / ᐋᒥᓯᓂᐦᐋᐹᑦ, you go over the lacing twice to have the desired decorative effect on the snowshoe.
– Louise Mayappo
Having two sets of snowshoes is practical when you set out for a winter journey.
Ideally the snowshoes you will be walking with have to be in good condition and bigger than the other pair and the wood that is made with must be strong.
The other pair will be smaller than the other snowshoes, these ones will be used for shorter walks, hunting and collecting essential items like firewood.
Having two pairs of snowshoes is ideal because if there is a trail to your destination you can use the smaller snowshoes. When walking without a trail, walking on top of the snow (ustaahkunich) you will need the bigger pair.
It is important to consider the weight of the load that is to be carried on the toboggan and by backpack before setting out on a safe journey. Snowshoes can break if you are carrying a heavy backpack.
– Eddie Pashagumeskum
Long ago, the long snowshoes ᒑᐦᑯᐦᐧᐁᐅᓵᒪᒡ were not used that much in the spring, they were mostly used in the winter because you will not sink when walking in the snow.
There are two kinds of the rounded snowshoes ᐴᑐᓵᒪᒡ, one looks like a bear paw. These were good for springtime walking
– Ella Neeposh
Some people made long snowshoes (ᒑᐦᐧᑯᐦᐧᐁᐅᓵᒪᒡ), which are useful for walking on snow in the winter, preventing a person from sinking too much. These snowshoes were especially good for hunting.
When the season changed, other types of snowshoes were made. Rounded snowshoes (ᐴᑐᓵᒪᒡ) were used in the springtime.
Sometimes, when walking uphill (ᐁᐦ ᐱᔅᐧᑳᑯᓂᑳᒡ) with long snowshoes (ᒑᐦᑯᐦᐧᐁᐅᓵᒪᒡ), they could break if a person stepped in the wrong place. However, using round snowshoes (ᐴᑐᓵᒪᒡ) made walking easier, especially on flat areas.
– Matthew Ottereyes
Long ago, the long snowshoes ᒑᐦᑯᐦᐧᐁᐅᓵᒪᒡ were not used that much in the spring, they were mostly used in the winter because you will not sink when walking in the snow.
There are also round snowshoes (ᐴᑑᓵᒪᒡ).
Another type is the round-tail snowshoes (ᐅᔐᑐᓵᒪᒡ).
Additionally, there were snowshoes with a rounded front shape (ᐅᑎᐦᑎᐱᑌᐅᓵᒪᒡ) and rounded heels, which were mainly used by women. Pregnant women used these snowshoes as they provided better stability and helped prevent falls.
When a person receives a new pair of snowshoes (ᐁᐦ ᐅᔅᑲᐦᓵᒣᑦ), I have seen them—even children—carry them in a specific way (ᐁᐦ ᐃᑕᒫᓇᓈᑦ) when they walk out with them for the first time.
Snowshoes were hung outside on a tree, out of reach of dogs.
– Evadney Petawabano
A person takes great pride in making their own pair of snowshoes (ᐊᓵᒪᒡ) or having someone make a pair for them. They want them to look perfect, believing they will receive something good in return.
Snowshoes were a source of pride and were always well cared for. They were cleaned before being hung up.
When a child is taught to walk on snowshoes for the first time and steps out with a new pair (ᐁᐦ ᐅᔅᑲᐦᓵᒣᑦ), this is done in the morning, facing the direction where the sun rises. All shelters are also positioned in that same direction.
The child does not put on the snowshoes inside the tent. Instead, they are told to walk out carrying the snowshoes in a specific way (ᐁᐦ ᐃᑕᒫᓇᓈᑦ) and to stand them up outside.
The front-rounded snowshoes (ᐅᑎᐦᑎᐱᑌᐅᓵᒪᒡ) and traditional snowshoes (ᐄᓂᓵᒪᒡ) were very large, often at least three feet wide.
The front-pointed snowshoes (ᒑᐦᑯᐦᐧᐁᐅᓵᒪᒡ) were used for winter journeys (ᐁᐦ ᐱᒥᐱᒋᓈᓄᐧᐃᐦᒡ). The leader making the trail would wear the long snowshoes to break the path for others.
The round-tail snowshoes (ᐅᔐᑐᓵᒪᒡ) were used for walking around, gathering boughs, and collecting firewood.