Ceremonial Dagger Item Number: A8363 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Wood dagger carved in the shape of a barbed arrow head. Cedar bark is tied to the shaft. Head of dagger is painted red while three horizontal red bands are painted on the shaft.

History Of Use

Ceremonial. According to Jesse Oud, this was used in a “rain drop dance" (2019). According to Mrs. Billy Assu the dagger was used to "kill" a mask such as A8362 in a dance. According to Andy Schooner (of Deadman's Creek) this was used in the "happy-man dance" (1972).

Narrative

In 1959 John Davenport Clayton sold this collection of Bella Coola belongings (A8360-A8376) to the Campbell River Historical Society (Museum). The collection comprised 17 masks, headdresses, and other ceremonial items, as well as 3 cedar boxes. In 1963 the Campbell River Museum sold the 17 masks and ceremonial items to MOA (not the boxes). Objects in this collection may have come from Nuxalk households via sale, or exchange (as collateral towards money owed on goods purchased at the store), or may have been placed with the Claytons for secure storage during a time of floods and fires, and ended up remaining with the Clayton family?

Item History

What

Name
Ceremonial Dagger
Identification Number
A8363
Type of Item
dagger
Material
wood, fibre, cedar bark and paint
Manufacturing Technique
carved, painted and tied
Overall
height 49.2 cm, width 11.2 cm, depth 5.0 cm

Who

Culture
Nuxalk
Previous Owner
John Davenport Clayton and Campbell River & District Historical Society
Received from
Campbell River & District Historical Society (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Bella Coola, British Columbia, Canada

When

Collection Date
between 1890 and 1910
Ownership Date
before 1959 and before April 17, 1963
Acquisition Date
on April 17, 1963

Other

Condition
fair
Current Location
Case 12
Accession Number
0099/0004