Babiche is a type of cord or

lacing Lace is a lightweight fabric patterned with open holes. Lace(s) may also refer to: Arts and media Films * Lace (1926 film), ''Lace'' (1926 film), a German silent crime film * Lace (1928 film), ''Lace'' (1928 film), a Soviet silent film * Laces ( ...

rawhide Rawhide may refer to: *Rawhide (material), a hide or animal skin that has not been tanned * Whip made from rawhide Entertainment * ''Rawhide'' (1926 film), a Western directed by Richard Thorpe * ''Rawhide'' (1938 film), a Western starring baseball ...

sinew A tendon or sinew is a tough band of dense fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. It sends the mechanical forces of muscle contraction to the skeletal system, while withstanding tension. Tendons, like ligaments, are made of ...

traditionally made by Native Americans. Babiche were used for all purposes for which Europeans would use

string String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...

rope A rope is a group of yarns, Plying, plies, fibres, or strands that are plying, twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form. Ropes have high tensile strength and can be used for dragging and lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger ...

, e.g. as

webbing file:Webbing.jpg, red, blue and black nylon webbing as used in auto racing harnesses Webbing is a strong Textile, fabric weaving, woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibres, often used in place of rope. It is a versatile componen ...

, in the manufacture of

snowshoe Snowshoes are specialized outdoor gear for walking over snow. Their large footprint spreads the user's weight out and allows them to travel largely on top of rather than through snow. Adjustable bindings attach them to appropriate winter footw ...

s, braided straps and

tumpline A tumpline () is a strap attached at both ends to a sack, backpack, or other luggage and used to carry the object by placing the strap over the top of the head. This utilizes the spine rather than the shoulders as standard backpack straps do. ...

s, fishing and

harpoon A harpoon is a long, spear-like projectile used in fishing, whaling, sealing, and other hunting to shoot, kill, and capture large fish or marine mammals such as seals, sea cows, and whales. It impales the target and secures it with barb or ...

lines. Babiche bags were flexible carrying bags made from netted rawhide thongs, used by the

Indigenous peoples of the Subarctic Indigenous peoples of the Subarctic are the Aboriginal peoples who live in the Subarctic regions of the Americas, Asia, and Europe, located south of the true Arctic at about 50°N to 70°N latitude. This region includes the interior of Alaska ...

into the 20th century, especially for carrying meat.

Etymology

''Babiche'' is the

Canadian French Canadian French (, ) is the French language as it is spoken in Canada. It includes multiple varieties, the most prominent of which is Québécois (Quebec French). Formerly ''Canadian French'' referred solely to Quebec French and the closely re ...

adaptation of an Algonquian word derived from the Míkmaq ''ápapíj'', itself derived from ''ápapi'', meaning "cord" or "thread".

References

Notes

{{reflist Ropework Native American tools