Hat Item Number: 3318/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

South coast style double-weave basketry hat. Hat is cone-shaped, with a fine tight weave, and undecorated. The top of the hat is flat, with four larger crossed pieces at centre. Inside, there is a woven band to fit on a head.

History Of Use

Dome-shaped double woven hats were worn as rain protection. A hat band inside the hat was used to fit the hat to the crown of the head, and to keep the sides of the hat away from the wearer's head.

Specific Techniques

Dome-shaped hats were once a common hat type on the southern Northwest Coast, typically three-strand twined of red cedar bark, and often double-walled, with a full liner, in this case also twined. Some hats have the outer layer woven of split spruce root, and the inner of cedar bark. The weaver begins making the hat at the top, with four strips of cedar bark plaited together and then split into finer strands. Inside, a woven band is attached to fit closely around the wearer’s head. The elegant shape of these hats is sometimes enhanced with painted motifs.

Narrative

The hat is said to have been passed down to the donor from his grandmother, Agnes Burns Wilson. Agnes also had a collection of Nuu-chah-nulth basketry and engraved coin metal bracelets. It is uncertain whether the hat was collected by Agnes, or if it was previously owned by her mother, Ameekiah. Ameekiah was of chiefly lineage in Cape Mudge, and was said to have died (at a young age) in 1896.