Introducing the kwakwaka wakw first nations, the kwakwalaspeaking people also known by anthropologists as kwakiutl, with description of the songs, stories, dances, and ceremonial objects of the potlatch. The kwakwakawakw potlatch is a two hour program designed to introduce students to the sights, sounds and ceremony of the kwakwakawakw potlatch through video, object exploration, discussion, and drawing. These masks permit us a glimpse into the diverse array of characters and ideas that still constitute. Kwakwaka wakw translates into kwakwala speaking tribes. A census of the canadian population in 1991 reported that there were 4,120 kwakwaka wakw living. Off the northern tip of vancouver island, a small group of people has survived since time began. Kwakwakawakw arts are exemplified in totem poles, masks, wooden carvings, jewelry and woven blankets. About living tradition, the kwakwakawakw potlatch on.
For example, in the preface to her influential book, fighting with properw. Since that time, it has worked towards fulfilling the mandate to ensure the survival of all aspects of cultural heritage of the kwakwakawakw the umista cultural centre is one of the longestoperating and most successful first nations cultural facilities. The potlatch, for example, is a ceremony that the kwakwakawakw and some other indigenous nations in british columbia have been hosting since well before european contact. This picture book, told through the eyes of the designers daughter, tells the story of how the. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Among the kwakwakawakw people of the pacific northwest, the hamatsa were a secret society. A number of revitalization efforts have recently attempted to reverse language loss for kwakiutl. Kwakwakawakw transformation to the umista cultural centre in alert bay. Haida and kwakwakawakw totem poles in british columbia,1963.
Population prior to european contact the population numbered 19,125. Andrea sanborn the ceremonial mask of the kwakwakawakw. This important book, newly back in print, provides a geographic overview of the changing demography and settlement patterns of the kwakwakawakw between 1775 and 1920 and is a reference guide to the location and use of kwakwakawakw settlement sites. The beliefs of the kwakiutl kwakwakawakw people feature heavily in the cosmology of the umbra of victoria, and the importance of kwakiutl spirits is central to local events. Kwakiutl kwakwakawakw namethe name kwakiutl pronounced kwakeeyewtul has two meanings. This particular bow has been identified at different times in its history as eskimo, nuuchahnulth or nootkan, and as possibly kwakwakawakw or kwakiutl. The kwakwakawakw are a collective of twentyfive nations. Specifically, i examine some ways in which concepts of tradition and culture are invoked in british columbias first nations communities in order to negotiate, validate, and contest contemporary transformations to cultural practice.
Franz boas, george hunt and the making of anthropology recounts the history of the 1897 book through the lens of boas and hunts collaboration. Alert bay remains one of the most important artistic and culture centres on the northwest coast. Media in category kwakwaka wakw art the following 47 files are in this category, out of 47 total. Chapter three history of contact in the kwakwakawakw region pp. The majority of the masks presented here were made by kwakiutl1 now known as kwakwakawakw carvers and were collected by samuel a. Kwakwaka wakw kwakwaka wakw kwakiutl, or kwagiulth are a wakashan first nations people on northern vancouver island, the adjacent mainland coast and the islands between.
Most live in their traditional territory on northern vancouver island, nearby smaller islands including the discovery islands, and. In the past the name referred to all the related tribes or groups, those who spoke the kwakiutl language known in modern times as kwakwakawakw and the individual band. They speak the kwakwala language kwakwaka wakw means those who speak kwakwala and share a cultural orientation to the sea. Kwakiutl first nations land rights and environmentalism in. Im never more gratified than when im able to make something for our ceremonies, and to see it danced. Ornate weaving and woodwork were important crafts, and wealth, defined by slaves and material goods, was prominently displayed and traded at potlatch ceremonies. Nov 21, 2006 the kwakwakawakw listed as the kwakiutl nation are in stage four stage four of the british columbia treaty process. Historically, the kwakwakawakw economy was based primarily on fishing, with the men also engaging in some hunting, and the women gathering wild fruits and berries. Kwakwakawakw architecture the bill reid centre simon.
Oldman collection, in a catalog produced in december 1904, where it was. Kwakwaka wakw plural kwakwaka wakws or kwakwaka wakw a member of an indigenous people of the pacific northwest coast. With much interest in the process leading up to the mask coming to the umista, dr. Kwakiutl translation services english to kwakiutl translations. After learning to carve at age 12, kevin cranmer studied under kwakwa k a wakw master artist tony hunt. Our people our people living tradition, the kwakwaka. Kwakwakawakw art describes the art of the kwakwakawakw peoples of british columbia. Overall, i found galois book to be informative and well crafted. The kwakwakawakw meet colonialismin british columbia and at the chicago worlds fair. The ways of living, ways of giving teaching poster, designed for grades 68, features the kwakwakawakw people of british columbia, canada. Hunting bow southern northwest coast, probably kwakwakawakw.
Kwakiutl mythology mythic engine world of darkness. He has been inducted into the prestigious hamatsa dance society, giving him the right to perform that dance at potlatches. Though it was once outlawed by the indian act, the potlatch remains an important part of modern community. Wikimedia commons has media related to kwakwakawakw mythology. Oct 01, 2015 native american smoke curing a human corpse, 1910 kwakwakawakw man inside board structure, curing mummy over smoke and coals of fire, 1910. But many practices, rituals, and ceremonies occur throughout kwakwakawakw culture, and in some cases, neighboring indigenous cultures also. A group of roughly 20 tribes that share a common language, the kwakwa k awakw are famous for the depth and complexity of their ceremonial dances and songs, which dramatize their connections to the supernatural world. Situated on the northern part of vancouver island, british columbia, canada, the kwakwakawakw tribal lands are a stunning union of forest, sea and mountains.
It encompasses a wide variety of woodcarving, sculpture, painting, weaving and dance. Kwakiutl texts paperback june 26, 2012 by franz boas author 5. Like other forms of northwest coast art, kwakwaka wakw art employs punning or kenning, a style that fills visual voids with independent figures and motifs for example. Historically, the kwakwaka wakw economy was based primarily on fishing, with the men also engaging in some hunting, and the women gathering wild fruits and berries. Each tribe has its own history, practices, and stories. Kwakwakawakw settlements, 17751920 will serve as an important example to other scholars hoping to organize and publish materials relating to historical native occupancy of particular landscapes. Its isolated location protected the community from much of the effects of assimilation and remained not only a heritage village but also one of the most continually developing cultural areas on the coast. Kwakwakawakw waters are inhabited by 17 pods extended families of about 250 killer whales which are grouped into three major clans related pods. This remarkable environment teeming with life fostered the dramatic art of this tribe. Barbara cranmer, ucc view transcript video downloads transcript txt 1kb video mp4 1. The kwakwaka wakw were resettled and schooled by government in alert bay. Haida and kwakwakawakw totem poles in british columbia, 1963. Their language, art, and culture were driven underground. Boass book kwakiutl ethnography, when i came across a quote that stated that, after the.
Kwakwakawakw kwakiutl kwagiulth stonington gallery. Kwakwakawakw the bill reid centre simon fraser university. The umista cultural society was incorporated under the british columbia societies act on march 22, 1974. The kwakwakawakw were resettled and schooled by government in alert bay. The culture of the kwakwaka wakw is similar to that of their northern neighbours, the heiltsuk and oowekyala peoples. Northern resident orcas, mid queen charlotte strait. Our language is officially endangered, but we are working hard to keep it alive. The villages were located on ocean bays or freshwater rivers and lakes, and their houses lined the waterfront in rows two to three deep, with the highestranking families in the front row. Kwakwakawakw knowbc the leading source of bc information. Our people our people living tradition, the kwakwakawakw. One of the few coppers preserved in ethnological collections that retains its history belonged to mungo martin. About living tradition, the kwakwakawakw potlatch on the.
This thesis explores the dialectical relationship between aboriginal and anthropological discourses of tradition and cultural performance. Through lessons and activities, students will learn about some of the cultural traditions of this north pacific coast people, their values, and the. He recently collaborated with the kwakwakawakw to present a restored version of edward curtiss in the land of the head hunters. There are six stages in total, with the end result aimed at selfgovernment, monetary and land resources and the acknowledgment of indigenous rights and title to territory. Hunting bow southern northwest coast, probably kwakwaka. Some origin stories belong to only one specific tribe, while another tribe has its own stories. Presentday kwakwaka wakw still reside in these areas. Kwakwakawakw music is a sacred and ancient art of the kwakwakawakw peoples that has been practiced for thousands of years. Visual arts are defined by simplicity, realism, and artistic emphasis. Kwakwakawakw academics has focused on the historical and legal characteristics of the. Known in history as the kwakiutl or kwakewlths, kwakiool, quackolls, and many others by. A proposal to build a kwakwakawakw first nations centre for language culture has gained wide support. The social organization and the secret societies of the kwakiutl indians, by franz boas multiple formats at items below if any are from related and broader terms.
Kwakwaka wakw art can be defined by deep cuts into the wood, and a minimal use of paint reserved for emphasis purposes. The magnificent endangered sea mammals are known as the northern resident community of orcas the kwakwakawakw are comprised of approximately 30 autonomous groups. Constructing a collections object biography emma louise knight master of museum studies faculty of information university of toronto 20 abstract in 1921, the canadian government confiscated over 400 pieces of kwakwakawakw. The potlatch, for example, is a ceremony that the kwakwaka wakw and some other indigenous nations in british columbia have been hosting since well before european contact. I then joined her in vancouver where we both spoke at a workshop arranged by the greek embassy at the simon fraser university downtown campus. Their stories capture the essence of their relationship with the sea. Through lessons and activities, students will learn about some of the cultural traditions of this north pacific coast people, their values, and the potlatchone of the most important practices that. In contrast to the graphic and flatter styles of the haida and tsimshian, kwakwakawakw carvings were deeply sculpted. History, boas included 173 figures and 26 plates in his book. Kwakwakawakw people of british columbia resource overview. The kwakwaka wakw are a group of indigenous nations, numbering about 5,500, who live in the central coast of british columbia on northern vancouver island and the mainland. When one of these ancestral animals arrived at a given spot, it discarded its animal appearance and became human.
It was first documented in great britain, as part of the w. Kwakwakawakw art is a distinctive variant of northwest coast art in its style, forms, and cultural functions. This article is about the spiritual beliefs, histories and practices in kwakwakawakw mythology. Fort rupert was the first permanent white settlement in kwakwakawakw territory. Since that time, it has worked towards fulfilling the mandate to ensure the survival of all aspects of cultural heritage of the kwakwakawakw. The anthropologist franz boas had done most of his anthropological work in this area and popularized the term for both this nation and the collective as a whole. Renowned for carving and considered the most theatrical of all of the northwest coast tribes, the kwakwakawakw carving. Ritual authority in the kwakwakawakw potlatch, 1849 to 1922 joseph masco.
In 1750, there were about 5,000 to 6,000 kwakwaka wakw. After learning to carve at age 12, kevin cranmer studied under kwakwa k awakw master artist tony hunt. Kwakwaka wakw architecture historically, the typical village contained at least a dozen structures and a population ranging from fifty to one thousand people. Their current population, according to a 2016 census, is 3,665. Coppers are highly valued ceremonial objects that record crutial social and economic transactions in kwakwakawakw society.
The kwakwakawakw are a group of indigenous nations, numbering about 5,500, who live in the central coast of british columbia on northern vancouver island and the mainland. Oct 26, 2012 native american indian artist harold alfred kwakwaka wakw pacific northwest coast art duration. Musgamagw tsawataineuk tribal council members in a traditional kwakwaka wakw canoe protesting at the heritage salmon fish farm in broughton archipelago on 10 july 2004, and demonstrating their support for the greenpeace campaign keep it wild no fish farms. A proposal to build a kwakwaka wakw first nations centre for language culture has gained wide support. Traditions traditions are beliefs and customs that are passed down from one generation to the next. The name kwakiutl pronounced kwakeeyewtul has two meanings. Cranmer carves miniature pendants based on kwakwa k awakw ceremonial masks, as well as many fullsized masks for use in ceremonial dances. The culture of the kwakwakawakw is similar to that of their northern neighbours, the heiltsuk and oowekyala peoples. Andrea sanborn the ceremonial mask of the kwakwakawakw first. Students will use kwakwakawakw concepts and discuss differences in value systems. The kwakwaka wakw potlatch education program grades 3 to 5 teacher s notes. Kwakwaka wakw sun and moon masks natural history museum of utah. Though it was once outlawed by the indian act, the potlatch remains an important part of.
In 1951 the potlatch law was dropped from canadas books. However, the tribes are single autonomous nations and do not view. It merits a place on the reference shelf of anyone doing indepth research in. Kwakwakawakw kwakiutl first nations my mondo trading. Animals that figure in these origin myths include the thunderbird, his brother kolus. This program aims to develop an awareness of and respect for the kwakwakawakw. Kwakiutl history kwakwakawakw oral history says their ancestors namima came in the forms of animals by way of land, sea, or underground. The kwakwakawakw potlatch collection and its many social contexts. This article is about the spiritual beliefs, histories and practices in kwakwaka wakw mythology. Wayne alfred was born in 1958 in alert bay on the northern tip of vancouver island. Constructing a collections object biography emma louise knight master of museum studies faculty of information university of toronto 20 abstract in 1921, the canadian government confiscated over 400 pieces of kwakwakawakw potlatch. Kwakwakawakw translates into kwakwala speaking tribes. The exhibition opens with an introduction to the two men, kwakwakawakw culture, and boass influential approach to anthropology. In the 20th and 21st centuries, many of the kwakiutl have also converted to christianity, but elements of their traditional beliefs are still a vibrant part of life.