Spirit Dance Staff Item Number: A8141 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Wooden staff, or baton, adorned with many deer hooves at the proximal end that rattle. The hooves are threaded with pieces of deer hide which are in turn wound around and tied to the baton. A carved bear head creates a finial above two sets of deer hoof rattles. The remainder of the baton is engraved with various animals designs, which have also been painted.
History Of Use
Alternately referred to as a dance rattle, or dance baton. Elmendorf notes that amongst the southern Coast Salish: "this type of rattle consisted of several deer hoofs strung together, bunched. Several of these might be attached to a pole or held in the hand and shaken. Deer-hoof bunches were never attached to drums or other rattles. The deer-hoof rattle was especially used at spirit dances, principally in dancing the types of powers called qwa'xq for which deer-hoof bunches were attached to poles (1960:223)."
Cultural Context
ceremonial; spirit dance
Narrative
In 1972, D. Kew of Musqueam noted on the catalogue card that: "After four years of being a member of the Spirit Dance group, a man may use the kwcmin if his "power" tells him to do so. He uses it to signal the beat of his song."
Item History
- Made by Andy Jimmie (Maker) in British Columbia, Canada before 1950
- Collected in Clemclemaluts, British Columbia, Canada between 1950 and 1962
- Owned by Andy Jimmie
- Owned by Edith Bevan Cross before July 30, 1962
- Received from Edith Bevan Cross (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) on July 30, 1962
What
Who
- Culture
- Coast Salish: Quwutsun'
- Creator
- Andy Jimmie (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Andy Jimmie and Edith Bevan Cross
- Received from
- Edith Bevan Cross (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Clemclemaluts, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1950
- Collection Date
- between 1950 and 1962
- Ownership Date
- before July 30, 1962
- Acquisition Date
- on July 30, 1962
Other
- Accession Number
- 0081/0013