Lillian's and more driving around Manitoulin Island...

Okay, this post is out of order but I'm too lazy to redo my posts to make it chronological. And if you know how anal I normally am, this is saying a lot!

This post should have been on our way back from the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation before lunch at the greasy spoon known as Carol and Earl's (sorry, no offense to those Manitoulin locals).

On our way back, we checked out Lillian's Museum, which is in the same building as Lillian's Crafts. The other day, I was able to meet Lillian (the owner) through C. She was such a friendly lady and delighted to have visitors from the U.S. come by. During the first visit, I bought several beaded bracelets (gifts and a few for me) as well as a few pairs of handmade beaded earrings. We didn't have a chance to check out the museum the first time so that's why we decided to pay another visit.

The museum in Lillian's featured Porcupine Quill baskets. I didn't take any photos since cameras inside the museum (actually a little side room located in the store) and I didn't want to get in trouble.  The baskets were quite intricate and it was amazing to see the creativity and the skill it takes to makes these crafts. Turns out that making baskets with porcupine quills is a dying art. Many of the more elaborate pieces are sought after by collectors from afar. All of the museum exhibits were encased in glass. I wish I had some photos to share. Click here for more info on the baskets and a few photos as well from another source...

We snacked on a few of these spicy chips on the way back..

We planned to see this place tomorrow before leaving Manitoulin.

Signs off the 6 Highway...

Here are some photos of the jewelry I bought from Lillian's:

Porcupine quill earrings modeled by one of my favorite cartoon and comic characters, the Tick (model, "Bounding Tick" circa 1994 by Bandai). There is a lever on his back and when you press it down, he "jumps" (or "bounds" or whatever). One of his antenna is already broken off. Background books are my vintage books about the Philippines (a few are over a century old).

Close up of the beaded detail. The long white part are the porcupine quills.

Another pair of porcupine quill earrings, this time with green beads. Bounding Tick is there again but this time on my Sylvia Plath shelf.

Close up of the porcupine quills. Instead of being solid ivory, they are grey tipped.

Here's a pair of red and white beaded spiral earrings. I also bought a blue and yellow beaded pair but gave one away as a gift.

I thought these were really unique and unusual. They're a bit long for me, but I can pull off the look.

I also bought a spring green and aqua blue beaded bracelet. What I liked was the "twist" detail.

Love the colors and the workmanship...

There was another black bugle beaded bracelet I bought which looked like a delicate lace pattern. Unfortuately, I lost it - the clasp didn't fasten as tightly as it could have and so the bracelet (sob) is floating around somewhere.

Next up...Foodland!

Ojibwe Cultural Foundation

After our quick pitstop in Mindemoya, we drove a little further so we could check out this place:
Turned out that museum admission was free, so yay!

Located in the town of M'Chigeeng,:
"The Ojibwe Cultural Foundation strives to be the identity center of the Anishnaabe people and remains committed to the revitalization and growth of the language, culture, arts, spirituality and traditions of the Anishnaabe People of the First Nations of the Robinson Huron Treaty area. We dedicate ourselves to the expression of Anishnaabe culture in all forms, so our art, language, stories, songs and teachings flourish now and remain strong for generations to come." (info from offical website)

Below are Wampum Belts. Wampum are traditional sacred shell beads that were often used as currency between the European colonists and the Native North Americans



Like the white colonists did to the Native American tribes in the U.S., the same atrocities were also done to the First Nations tribes in Canada. Their children were taken away from them to learn more "civilized" ways, their language and way of life denigrated and suppressed and the people themselves died of diseases brought over by the colonists.

A placard about the different foods eaten by the Anishnaabe tribe...

One of the impressive art pieces in the museum was this hide with paintings...

This was the furnace in the healing lodge:

The fire pit...

Intricate carvings (I forget if this is bone or another tpe of material):



When we left, it started to sprinkle...

One last look...

By this time, the sprinkles had become heavier rain...and just my luck, I was wearing flip flops. My feet were so cold and wet!

But TC didn't seem to mind the rain...

Man, when am I ever going to finish these Manitoulin posts? C, are you reading this??? Ha ha. I still have to do the Kicking Mule Ranch, Foodland, all the wierd Canadian candy and snacks and so on! My brain is going to explode!

Back to Manitoulin Island! M-Chigeeng - Lillian's

Finally, back to Canada or more specifically, Manitoulin Island!

The last post I did was the Manitoulin Chocolate Works...This post should have been BEFORE that. But that's besides the point now, eh.

Looking at my old photos, we went here, to Lillian's, a First Nations crafts place and gift store). This was right after breakfast and BEFORE Bridal Veil Falls. Lillian's is in the small town of M'Chigeeng.

We were all jammed into C's mini van with one person, TCS (The college student) without a seat belt! Shhh! Don't tell!

I didn't take any photos inside but there were a lot of leather items (clothing, shoes), beaded items (jewelry and clothing), moccasins, feathers, beads and kits for making dreamcatchers. There was also a back room which served as an exhibit for these rare porcupine quill baskets as well as dolls. One of the main tribes on the island is the Ojibwe.

There was a Tipi outside with a totem pole.

Bert, TC and I ended up going here a few days later...

After checking out Lillians and buying some earrings (beaded spirals and porcupine quill drops), we went to Bridal Veil Falls in Kagawong, and the Manitoulin Chocolate Works (also in Kagawong). The next stop on our day long adventure was Gore Bay...