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winter kit

Winter Trek Uniform Requirements
Traditional Snowshoe Selections
Tying Snowshoes the Native Way

British Army Issue Canadian Winter Dress
Headgear: Beaver fur trimmed, red wool 'Canadian' cap. See the list of equipment suppliers section for details on sources. Canadian Winter Uniform
Body:Uniform is cloaked with a Government white with blue stripe capot. Indian Department members can wear a traditional French Canadian capot.
Legs & Feet: The leggings depicted on the image above are most likely the artist's portrayal of Indian leggings. For winter trekking, Canadian winter snowshoe moccasins are highly recommended. See the list of equipment suppliers section for details on sources.


Traditional Snowshoe Selections

Traditional native style snowshoes are mandatory for Marksmen and Indian Department winter trekkers. There are several styles to choose from. Click on snowshoe styles for an image.

Huron or St. Lawrence style snowshoes are the style most likely used by soldiers in Canada. This style is the most common depiction of Canadian snowshoes in contemporary 18th century images of both Natives and French Canadians. These snowshoes are still made today by the Huron in Quebec.

Iroquois Bearpaw snowshoes are said to be the style most favored by the Six Nations. However, popular modern opinion says this style is not as effective or as comfortable as others.

Algonkian snowshoes are believed to have been used by upper Lakes Natives. They are said to be the most effective and comfortable of all the Native style snowshoes.

Ojibway are another upper Lakes style similar to the Huron style.

How To Tie Snowshoes the Native Way

About a yard of either thick twill or strong leather thong is good for tying on snowshoes, although the former doesn't risk cutting your circulation off. This binding method is a way Fil Walker has shared with us and has been confirmed as a method of binding snowshoes by the Royal Ontario Museum.

tying snowshoes

  1. Size up your foot with snowshoe toe hole. The balls of your feet should slightly forward into the hole, touching the edge. Your arch should be over the edge. This should be done with the footwear you will be using.

  2. Take 1 yard of heavy twill or strong leather thong and loop around toe hole. There should be a distinctive loop where your foot can slide in.

  3. Slip your foot into the loop formed by the twill or strong leather thong. Tighten it so it is snug around your upper middle foot.

  4. Criss-cross the two ends of twill or strong leather around your upper foot / front ankle.

  5. Tie it off at the back of your heel and criss-cross excess around your leg. Tie off again around your upper ankle.

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