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Transformation Mask of the Kwakwaka’wakw people
The object is a Transformation Mask from the Kwakwaka’wakw people. These masks were worn by dancers during ceremonies, they pull strings to open and move the mask, animating it. The mask can be opened and closed to reveal a mythical being or an…
Native Woman with Children
This source is a black and white photograph that portrays an indigenous woman with two children with several buckets. It is difficult to glean much from this photograph with certainty. One of the children appears to have some form of facial…
Tsaxis, ownership of houses by tribe
This source is a map of Tsaxis (Fort Rupert) which refers to the period of circa 1866, showing the ownership of houses by tribe. The peoples shown are the Walas Kwakiutl, Komkiutis, Kwakiutl and Kweeha. This is important because there was distinction…
An Act to amend ‘The Indian Act’ 1887
This document is a piece of legislation that shows us several amendments to the Indian Act, using formal vocabulary. It states that the Superintendent General has the ultimate power over native people in matters of property entitlement. The natural…
An Act to encourage the gradual Civilization of the Indian Tribes in this Province, and to amend the Laws respecting Indians, 1857
This source is an extract of a government report to produce legislation to ‘civilise’ the native peoples in Canadian provinces. The document sets out that for the natives to have equal legal distinction to other Canadian subjects (European colonists)…
British Columbia Tribune
This newspaper article assesses the governmental mismanagement of British Columbia and Vancouver Island’s structure as colonies. The article saliently concludes that foreign trade for New Westminster and Victoria will be diminished, and Vancouver…
James Douglas death certificate
The source is the death certificate of James Douglas, who came to Canada as a fur trader in 1819 for the North West Company and became the Governor of the British Columbia colony in 1858. The certificate shows that James Douglas lived until the age…
Announcing a Potlatch
This source is a painting of a costumed bird and rowers on a ceremonial dugout canoe, made from a single cedar log. The purpose of the scene depicted was to announce a potlatch which would celebrate a birth or wedding or commemorate a death. The…
Lenihan's report on his visit to the Indian villages on the Lower Fraser from Yale to the Gulf of Georgia together with those on the Harrison River and at the head of Harrison Lake
This is a written report from James Lenihan, who was the Fraser Superintendent, serving the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia. The source has the feel of a merchant trip, with trade of gifts, sharing of tobacco and attempts by the indigenous…
The Kwaktiutl village of Xumtaspi-Nawittl
The source is a photograph of the village in Vancouver Island called Xwamdasbe, translated as ‘Place where there is otter’. The photograph includes fishery housing with the house on the right featuring three painted family crests. There are also…