Spirit Dance Leggings Item Number: A6888 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Pair of wool leggings with geometric patterns. Leggings are knitted with elasticized tops. Designs appear in horizontal rows. Red and blue wool was used.

History Of Use

Used with Spirit Dancer's costume. Also used by Sxwayxway dancers and in the feeding ceremonies for the new dancers.

Cultural Context

ceremonial; winter dances; Sxwayxway dance

Narrative

This costume was purchased from a man from Cowichan Bay. It came to his oldest son from the boy's uncle. The pants have hardly been worn, but the short or jacket has been used for many years. The white paddles are made from the pussy willow tree and the red-tipped ones from yew. Originally the whole costume was used with a human hair headdress by a dancer with the warrior spirit. The previous owner also has the warrior spirit, but he only used the shirt and didn't use the hair headdress but a simple one of cedar bark... This costume is the older type with pants, jacket or shirt, and wool leggings. In this case the leggings are put on seperately, often they are sewn directly to the pants.

Item History

What

Name
Spirit Dance Leggings
Identification Number
A6888 a-b
Type of Item
legging
Material
fibre, rubber ? and wool fibre
Manufacturing Technique
knitted
Overall
height 21.0 in, width 6.75 in

Who

Culture
Coast Salish: Quwutsun'
Previous Owner
Robert H. Nichols
Received from
Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source) and Robert H. Nichols (Seller)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
Cowichan Bay, British Columbia, Canada

When

Ownership Date
before June 1958
Acquisition Date
during June 1958

Other

Item Classes
textiles
Accession Number
2073/0009 a-b