Parfleche Parfleche refers to a First Nations bag made of rawhide which was traditionally used for storage.

The Word Parfleche

The word parfleche came from the French fur traders. In French "parer" means to "defend” or “turn away”, and "flèche" is the word for "arrow.” The parfleche received it’s name as the hide was strong enough to be used as a shield.

Parfleche

The rawhide was prepared by first removing any hair from the skin and then stretching the hide and finally laying it out in sun. This process created a strong yet heavy leather.

A parfleche bag was made using a single piece of rawhide which was folded similar to that of an envelope.

Parfleche

Not every parfleche has the envelope shape. Some were in the shape or a cylinder or a box.

What Parfleche bags carried.

Many parfleche bags were mainly used to carry dried foods, household items and clothing.

Pemmican, a food made from dried meat was often carried in parfleche bags.

Pemmican

Pemmican is a prime example of Aboriginal people using what was found in nature for nourishment.

The word Pemmican is thought to be based on the Cree words – pimii meaning fat or grease and kan meaning prepared.

Pemmican

Pemmican offered a high calorie and very transportable food containing proteins, vitamins and fat, making it a staple food on the fur trade.

The ingredients depended largely on what was available however the meat was usually bison, elk, deer or moose and the berries were typically choke-cherries, saskatoons, currents, or blue berries.

Symmetry on Parfleche bags

Parfleche bags usually had geometrical shapes which were symmetrically designed on the bags.

There are records which indicate that the original bags had graphics which symbolized maps and included pictorial records of the surrounding land.

Symmetry on a Parfeche

Design and Colours on a Parfleche

The art style seen on many parfleche designs is typical of the Plains Nations as it tends to include geometric, symmetrical and angular designs.

Typically no more than four colours were used in these art designs generally including the colors green, red, yellow and black. Colours were made from natural items such as plant material or minerals.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemmican

http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006199

http://www.natureskills.com/pemmican_recipe.html

http://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/indianed/teacher/lessons/EarthPeople/files/Chapter%201%20-%20Kindergarten.pdf