Canoe Paddle Item Number: A8169 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved wood paddle with a diamond-shaped blade and a handle grip mortised and nailed to the shaft. Blade is painted in geometric sections of, from the handle, blue, white, and red with a plain natural wood handle.
History Of Use
Anthropologist Homer Barnett notes that: "Paddles were made of yellow cedar, yew and maple. Those of maple and cedar were painted, the men's being black, the women's red. A smoky pitch fire and oil gave an impenetrable black. Ocher or an alder-bark infusion supplied the red. Practically, the colouration protected the wood and, so some say, prevented the glint of sunlight on a moving paddle (1955:116)."
Cultural Context
water travel
Narrative
This is a man's paddle. Its diamond shaped blade differentiates it from the woman's paddle which has a round or pointed end, while river paddles are distinguished by a triangular notch cut into the bottom of the blade (see Elmendorf 1960:188-189).
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada during 1950
- Owned by Felix Jack
- 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'
- Previous Owner
- Felix Jack 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
- Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Collection Date
- during 1950
- Ownership Date
- before July 30, 1962
- Acquisition Date
- on July 30, 1962
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 3
- Accession Number
- 0081/0026 a