by Mark McAvoy

The Tsimshian, who lived along the northern coast of British Columbia, caught halibut by setting large V-shaped hooks on the bottom of fishing banks. Usually, the hooks were made of wood, bone, and spruce root. A fisherman would lash a barb to one arm of the hook and traditionally carved a “spirit helper” into the other arm to provide supernatural assistance. This example has twine threaded through the centre of what looks like a sea lion.

90 Years Ago

Planting the prairie forests

The November 1922 issue explained the importance of a tree-planting campaign on the prairies. The article described the Canadian Forestry Association’s success in both growing trees and educating farmers about the benefits of tree cultivation. The Hudson’s Bay Company was “vitally interested in the settlement and development of the West” and was a supporter and contributor to the Canadian Forestry Association.

60 Years Ago

Punishable by death

In the September 1952 issue, Gilean Douglas related a Kwakiutl tale of a massacre that took place about 180 years ago on Gilford Island. A woman from Guayasdums, or the “outside place,” stole a sacred hamatsa — a ceremonial whistle representing the voices of spirits — from a Bella Bella woman during a winter dance ceremony. After returning home, the Bella Bella sent three war canoes to Guayasdums and killed all but seven members of the Crow and Scow families.

30 Years Ago

Ornate objects

Jean Blodgett, the former curator of Inuit art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, wrote in the Autumn 1982 issue about the many uses for whalebone among the Thule people. Whalebone was utilized for weapons and tools, burial cairns, houses, and as an artistic medium. As Blodgett explained, it was not a popular medium for the Thule artists — who preferred to use ivory — but decorative incisions can be found in much of the functional equipment they created.