Soul Catcher Item Number: A151 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved, hollow, cylindrical bone, the centre of which is decorated with crosshatching and dots while the ends have incised lines. Centre is plugged with cedar bark. Attached to a cedar bark chain that has been dyed red.
History Of Use
Soul catchers were used by a shaman to capture and return souls that had left the body, thus causing illness. Originally cedar bark plugs were used in the openings at either end to contain the spirits or souls, that had been captured to return to a host.
Cultural Context
doctor's charm
Narrative
According to Burnett this item, as well as A146, A149-A153, A155-A157, "...belonged to the late Medicine Man Najieksum Illthpooen (the tail of the whale), of the Kityelash tribe, the people who live by the strong water, Port Essington District ... and was purchased from his widow by the Methodist Missionary of that district."
Item History
- Made in Kitselas, British Columbia, Canada before 1927
- Collected in Port Essington, British Columbia, Canada between 1920 and 1927
- Owned by Najieksum Illthpooen
- Owned by Frank Burnett before 1927
- Received from Frank Burnett (Donor) on July 25, 1927
What
- Name
- Soul Catcher
- Identification Number
- A151
- Type of Item
- soul catcher
- Material
- bone and cedar bark
- Overall
- height 15.3 cm, width 15.7 cm, depth 1.8 cm
- Image
- height 14.5 cm, width 14.5 cm, depth 1.8 cm
Who
- Culture
- Tsimshian
- Previous Owner
- Najieksum Illthpooen and Frank Burnett
- Received from
- Frank Burnett (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Kitselas, British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Port Essington, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1927
- Collection Date
- between 1920 and 1927
- Ownership Date
- before 1927
- Acquisition Date
- on July 25, 1927
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 17
- Accession Number
- 2191/0183