Material culture of the Menomini / by Alanson Skinner.

  • Alanson Skinner
Date:
1921
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Material culture of the Menomini / by Alanson Skinner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    • usual among the forest tribes, in contra¬ distinction to those of the prairie, who took pains to form their camps in great circles, wherein the several bands often had their fixed quarters. However, the Menomini elders claim that the members of each of the gentes were similarly segre¬ gated in their ancient villages. Wigwams were not erected near trees that might fall and crush them, nor where heavy branches, torn off in a storm, might break in the roof. No toilet facilities were provided in the villages, the privacy of the encircling forest sufficing. It was often necessary to move a village when the fire¬ wood in the vicinity had been consumed. Nowadays the Menomini are less careful in the situation of their houses than for¬ merly. In olden times a warm, sunny knoll, preferably of sand, was chosen. Even at present an effort is made to locate the house on dry, high ground. Now as then, drinking water, preferably an ever- flowing spring, must be close at hand.
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