Innu Tea Dolls

Tea Doll from the British Museum,
photo by Ethan Doyle White

       Traditional Innu craft is demonstrated in the Innu tea doll. These children’s toys originally served a dual purpose for nomadic Innu tribes. When traveling vast distances over challenging terrain, the people left nothing behind. They believed that “Crow” would take it away. Everyone, including young children, helped to transport essential goods. Innu women made intricate dolls from caribou hides and scraps of cloth. They filled the dolls with tea and gave them to young girls to carry on long journeys. The girls could play with the dolls while also carrying important goods. Every able-bodied person carried something. Men generally carried the heavier bags and women would carry young children.

Links to Innu tea dolls:

• Miniature Innu Tea Dolls (Pair)
• tea doll with baby
• Innu baby tea doll
• Angela Andrew remembered for her crafting of traditional tea dolls
• Tea dolls in high demand
• The doll stuffed with tea leaves...
• Tea dolls are also known as packing dolls.

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