Spirit Dance Staff Item Number: A17070 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Long staff, pointed at the top, skinned bare of bark and branches up to 14 in. from the top where a series of 6 branches extend perpendicularly from the staff in all directions. A number of deer hooves and feathers are fastened with thongs and string around the branches. A blue nylon scarf is tied just below.

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

winter dancing; ceremonial

Narrative

Used by a novice dancer (female) at Musqueam.