From Emily Ing
In April 2017, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) made public a promised gift of 91 pieces of Native American art from prominent art collectors, Charles and Valerie Diker. Among these pieces is a piece labelled “Shoulder bag (missing strap)” that can be traced back to an 1845 photograph being worn by Reverend Peter Jones (Kahkewāquonāby) of the Mississauga Ojibwas during his missionary fundraising travels overseas.
The enduring presence of this pouch prompted me, as a Masters of Museum Studies student, to investigate its display history by researching its known and potential provenance details. What I uncovered was that the pouch had been exhibited in numerous large institutions with a focus of it as a piece of art, often divorced from its contextual significance with Kahkewāquonāby and Ojibwa practices. Using ArcGIS StoryMap, I visually explore the journey and exhibition history of the pouch over the years.
Having reviewed these exhibitions, I am left to wonder how the Odawa (possible creators of the pouch) or Mississauga might choose to exhibit this pouch today? Throughout its extensive exhibition history, there is rarely evidence of direct involvement from these communities in shaping its display. I hope this map illustrates the long journey this pouch has taken and inspires insights about its future display.
Emily Ing (she/her) is a second-generation Chinese-Canadian pursuing a Master of Information (with a concentration in Archives and Records Management) and a Master of Museum Studies at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information. Emily works in the GLAM sector and serves as a director of a rare disease charity. For any input or inquiries, please contact Emily at e.ing@mail.utoronto.ca.