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New trapping exhibit at Museum

Author

Terry Lusty

Volume

4

Issue

21

Year

1986

Page 4

In November, the Provincial Museum in Edmonton unveiled a new display relating to trapping in the north. The exhibit, entitled "Trapping in Transition"," was co-ordinated by curator Dr. Pat McCormack and will be up at least until the spring or early summer of 1987.

An estimated 150 people, including some real live trappers, attended the opening which offered traditional snacks of tea, bannock, moosemeat and whitefish. How about that! One didn't even have to go to a northern busy community to partake of the same food that hunters and trappers enjoy.

The display items, mostly gathered over the course of the past year or so, were contained primarily in four large glass display cases. Many of the objects on display were donated to the museum and are now a part of the museum's permanent collections.

McCormack says that this is the first time that the museum has demonstrated an exhibit which focuses solely on trapping.

Trapping is a recent area of interest in the part of the museum, which hopes to expand its collections of items related to trapping.

The present exhibit consists of both historical and contemporary materials. These include fleshing tools, pelt stretchers, wool leggings, traps, muskrat spear, dog pack and harness, a dog whip and blankets, snowshoes and mitts, hats and a buckskin gun case. There are also some scale models of a log cabin, a dogsled and a deadfall trap.

To illustrate the shift to contemporary times, a few modern goods are display such as winter coveralls, rubber boots which are vital in the springtime, and a gas container for Skidoo fuel. An additional complement to the display are approximately three dozen wonderful photographs, many in color.

McCormack readily admits that the trapping collection and exhibit could be strengthened. Unfortunately, she says, many of the items from the past have not been preserved and are unavailable. It seems that unless an object was one of particular decoration such as those which employed bead, quill or embroidery work, those items simply are not collected. On the contrary, most have been discarded or destroyed over time.

As a curator constantly in search of collectibles, McCormack has noted a dire absence of not only men's but also women's everyday clothing. These, she claims, are difficult to find even if they do exist.

In the meantime, the public is encouraged to visit the Provincial Museum in Edmonton to view what is on display. There is no admission charge to see the display.