Historic garment comes home to Garden River

A nineteenth-century historical artifact with local significance is the subject of an article in today’s Barrie Examiner.

The Ojibwa women’s hood has been repatriated from Southern Ontario thanks to the efforts of two Barrie-area men, Paul and Ron Marshall.

The men believe the broadcloth garment came into their family in the 1800s.

The Marshalls’ great-grandparents - James and Mary Jane Butchart - lived in Garden River at the time.

In 1874, James built the original Shingwauk Hall, where the Algoma University campus is now located.

Sault Ste. Marie Museum Curator Kim Forbes believes the hood may have been given to Mary Jane as a gift in recognition of her husband’s contributions.

The item is currently in Garden River via the Shingwauk Education Trust.

Plans call for its eventual display at the Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig (University), which is closely affiliated with Algoma University.

To real the full article, click here.