Woven cedar bark screen with painted design in a vertical orientation. The screen is edged with wide strips of bark. The screen is divided into two sections by black and orange strips of bark woven into borders. The upper section is painted with a vertical panel featuring a thunderbird at top, a row of paddles(?), an anthropomorphic face, and a four-legged creature underneath. The lower section depicts a whale with a thunderbird perched on top, and a whaling vessel, which is being rained on from under another thunderbird. There is another fishing vessel on the left, and a four-legged creature to the right.

• History Of Use

  Haa’yuups (Ron Hamilton) commented: “Over the years, I have seen a couple of other painted mats of this size.... There is a tradition on our coast of Tlaaxsaata, Hakoma and Hikiitsim all, at times and for certain families, being danced with the dancer not coming onto the floor at all but rather staying behind a small thliitsapilthim during the entire dance. This painted mat may have functioned once in this capacity."

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• Type of Item screen
• Culture Nuu-chah-nulth
• Material cedar bark, paint
• Measurements height 176.0 cm, width 93.5 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Westwillow Antiques
• Received from Westwillow Antiques, Museum of Anthropology Acquisitions Budget

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• Made in Vancouver Island

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• Creation Date between 1875 and 1925
• Ownership Date before September 6, 2018
• Acquisition Date on September 6, 2018

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• Item Classes basketry
• Condition poor
• Accession Number 3317/0001