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Description

Whaling harpoon of four parts (parts a-d). Parts a and d are pointed at one end, scarfed at the other to join with pieces b and c which are scarfed at both ends. Sections appear to have been painted black.

Narrative

Meade said he was given the harpoon by Frank Savey, who was still living in Nuchatlitz village at the age of 72, in 1961. Savey was Mowachaht, and married into Ehattesaht, but lived at Nuchatlitz. He said this harpoon had been used to kill 42 whales over 3 generations, but that it hadn't been used since 1850. Savey said he had been whale hunt harpooner in the old days. According to an interview with Meade, Savey had the harpoon stored in the attic in an old leather bag, and didn't want to sell it the first time they met. Meade told him about a museum at UBC (MOA), where it would be displayed to many people. Apparently about a month later, Meade received a message in Campbell River, that Savey had decided to give it to him for the museum, so Meade went back to collect it, and then sold it to MOA along with other pieces from the area. W. Langdon Kihn drew a portrait of Savey in 1922 (see RBCM #16908), reproduced in "Out of the Mist", pg 147; the drawing caption says "Ta-is-sum (Frank Savey), Chief of the Ehattisaht Tribe".