The scroll here is not ancient. It was gifted to Chief Midegah as a sample of what an ancient scroll would look like for him to take to Wayne May’s Conference. The message on the scroll is ancient and was passed down from generation to generation. It represents a sample of the High Priests language of the ancient people.
Elder Mark Phillips explained to me that the scroll of birch bark are mostly held in museums today. He does not have access to them. However, what he has are paper images of what was on the scrolls.
That being said, as I visited their home, one day a walked past the picnic bench and there on the table was a rolled up birch bark scroll. I stood and looked at it from a distance. There was no one around. I assumed my character was being tested. I dared not pick it up, or touch it in any way. Eventually, I walked on.
Later that week, I visited Brian Outinen who is an Ojibwe Translator. He showed me a book which can be purchased online for about $1,000. It has images of a scroll. Here is the book cover for your reference.
