Spirit Dance Belt Item Number: A8751 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Woven belt with geometric design in red on white. Fringed ends in white and red.
Sto:lo Elders identified this as a spirit dance sash that is worn around the waist of a dancer during winter ceremonies. It is one part of a uniform worn by the dancer on such occassions. Anthropologist Pamela Amoss notes that uniforms reflect the type of spirit seen by the dancer in his/her vision. She also observed that the costumes worn in British Columbia were generally more colourful than those worn by dancers in Washington State.
spirit dancing; guardian spirit complex; ceremonial; weaving
Dr. Raley, the presumed collector of this belt, was Principal at the Coqualeetza residential school in Sardis BC. His catalogue listed this piece as a tumpline. Since this sash is of the type worn by Coast Salish spirit dancers it is possible the piece was collected near Sardis. Not for display.