From card: "Wood painted red, white and black. Modern carving. According to Norman Tait, Nishga artist, "this is a Tsimshian mask, probably carved on the Skeena River, used for dancing (indicated by black stripe across the face). Carved of alder wood, well done, but quickly done, probably in preparation for a winter dance." (10/21/85). This mask has two catalog numbers: 274242 and 360363. W. Sturtevant requested that the 274242 number be used and the 360363 number be "retired", with a blank card in the file referring to 274242. (Card and ledger books changed by S. Crawford, 10/25/85)." LEDGER AND CATALOG CARD SAY SENT TO VICTOR J. EVANS, WASHINGTON, D.C. AS AN EXCHANGE JUNE 23, 1920.As indicated on the catalogue card, this mask was exchanged with Victor J. Evans in 1920. In 1931, Evans' collection came to the Smithsonian as a bequest, Accession number 113605, and this mask was part of that collection. The mask was given Catalogue # 360363 in the Evans collection. In 1985, at the request of curator Dr. William Sturtevant, the mask was returned to its original catalogue number of 274242.This object is on loan to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, from 2010 through 2027.Source of the information below: Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center Alaska Native Collections: Sharing Knowledge website, by Aron Crowell, entry on this artifact http://alaska.si.edu/record.asp?id=675, retrieved 4-24-2012: Mask, Tsimshian, probably Skeena River, British Columbia, Canada. Masks were among the most important objects representing a chief's halaayt (spirit powers). Each portrayed a different guardian spirit in bird, animal, or human form, and each had a unique name and song. Nisga'a artist Norman Tait commented that this example was probably from a Skeena River village and that the black band across the eyes confirmed that it was used for dancing. He thought it was well carved but probably quickly made for a winter ceremony. "If you could call any mask classical Tsimshian, this one has all the features ... these cheekbones, the way the nose is sculpted, the narrow lips, and the way the eyes look down and slightly to the sides. When you dance you're turning from side to side, and that helps you to see where you are going." - David Boxley (Tsimshian), 2009

Florence Sheakley, Ruth Demmert, and Virginia Oliver made the following comments during the Tlingit Recovering Voices Community Research Visit, March 13-March 24, 2017. This object looks like it has a Raven design. It could have had sea lion whiskers or bird feathers coming from the top for decoration.

From card: "Label reads "Haida Indians, Queen Charlotte Indians". Collector's description on reverse. Illus. in The Far North catalog, Nat. Gall. of Art, 1973, p. 272. 4/17/67: loan data: worm holes - ok, some splits. 4/18/67: loaned to Vancouver Art Gall. 12/13/67: returned by Vancouver. Loaned to the National Gallery of Art October 20, 1972. Returned 5-29-73. Loaned to Renwick Gallery 2/11/82. Returned 1983. Lent to Canadian Embassy, Nov. 19, 1991. Loan returned Nov. 20, 1991. Illus.: Hndbk. N. Amer. Ind., Vol. 7, Northwest Coast, Fig. 14 right, pg. 253." Handbook of North American Indians caption: Ceremonial staff. Wand of office held by a chief when giving out gifts at the potlatch. When a recipient was named, the staff was thumped on the floor boards. Staff carved in 2 jointed sections. Whe pulled apart at the socket, the chief retaining one section in each hand, the distribution of presents began (Niblack 1890:272). Collected by J.G. Swan at Masset, B.C., 1883; length 82.2 cm.From second card: "Collector's description: "Taski or carved cane held by chief when distributing presents, formerly highly valued". Upper - whale & crow. Middle - sparrohawk Skamison. Lower - beaver eating mouse. "Taski very ancient, carved to represent one of the columns in front of chiefshouse. This is in two sections, one fitting in a socket to the other. Held in chiefs hand as a baton or wand of office while distributing presents." - Swan's invoice and descriptive catalogue.. [From Celebration: A World of Art and Ritual, exhibit catalogue for Renwick Gallery exhibit, 1982-83:] Speaker's Staff, ca. 1830-60, ... wood, 32 3/8 x 2 (82.2 x5). Men of position often kept speakers to make their public announcements, such as calling out recipients' names at potlatches. Professional speakers carreid staffs like the one shown here, but this particular staff was used by a chief himsel when distributing gifts. In traditional Northwest Coast Indian societies, where all legitimacy came from the past, a chief stood as symbol of his house, and the carved speaker's staff he or his representative held signified his authority - analogously to the way a totem pole signified the authority of the house it stood beside. Holding such a staff indicated that the power to distribute gifts in the present derived from events that occurred in the mythic past. This particular staff, which is incomplete, shows (top to bottom) figures of Raven, Whale, Crow, Sparrowhawk, Beaver, and Mouse."SI ARCHIVE DISTRIBUTION DOCUMENTS SAY SENT TO PEABODY MUSEUM, HARVARD, MASS. 1887.

Provenience note: many objects in the Chirouse collection were catalogued as Duwamish, however that really only seems to definitively apply to Catalogue No. 130965. Accession record indicates that the collection is the "handiwork of the Snohomish, Swinomish, Lummi, Muckleshoot and Etakmur Indians on the Tulalip Reservation in Washington Territory".

This canoe model is described in Collins Boat Ms. p. 915: "Northwest Coast dugout canoe. Used by Indians in the Northwest Coast of America for travelling, hunting, fishing, etc.. ... An open keeless dugout; painted; sharp, high, projecting ends; round bilge; narrow, flat floor; much sheer on top; three thwarts, forward one with mast-hole; two paddles, with spear-shaped blades and cross-bar handles. ... Paddles missing ... Apl 20 [18]99.""OREGON. R. R. W[aldron]" IS WRITTEN ON THE ARTIFACT. HAS ORIGINAL PEALE # LABEL.Note: Neg. #s 2002-12257 and 2002-12296 are photos of this canoe model with paddle models Catalogue # E642. Illus. p. 257 and described on p. 257 and p. 383 of Gilman, Carolyn. 2003. Lewis and Clark across the divide. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books. Identified there as Lower Columbia River type.Note: There is some question as to whether the two paddles currently numbered E1871-0 actually belong with E1871-0. They are both numbered 1871 in old handwriting, but the larger paddle is also marked "Oregon by R. R. Waldron Ex. Ex. b.17", which would imply it was from the U.S. Exploring Expedition, Accession No. 66A00050. If the paddles are from the Exploring Expedition, one possible catalogue number might be E2583-0?, which is supposed to have paddles, according to the catalogue, but currently those have not been located.Provenience note, in 1841 Oregon Territory encompassed the land from Russian Alaska to Spanish California and from the Pacific to the Continental Divide. The U.S. Exploring Expedition reached Oregon Territory in 1841, and carried out a hydrographic survey of the Columbia River from its mouth to the Cascades, as well as doing some surveying inland.They also had dealings with Hudson's Bay Company staff during that time, and it is probable that the HBC is the source of a number of the Northwest Coast artifacts collected by the expedition.

FROM CARD: "TWO BLADED DAGGER. MADE OF IRON, ONE BLADE LONG AND TAPERING, THE OTHER SHORT. THE UPPER OR OUTER SIDE OF EACH BLADE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE FLAT SURFACES, AND IN HIGHLY-FINISHED EXAMPLES THE MIDDLE SURFACE IS RAISED SLIGHTLY. GRIP BETWEEN THE BLADES NARROWED AND WRAPPED WITH CLOTH OR LEATHER. HAS NOTCHES CUT INTO THE BLADES AND ALSO RIVETS OF BRASS SET IN. ILLUS. IN PROCEEDINGS, USNM, VOL. 60, ART. 9; P1. 34, NO. 9; P. 48. LOANED TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART OCTOBER 20, 1972. RETURNED 5-29-73. ILLUS. IN THE FAR NORTH CATALOG, NAT. GALL. OF ART, 1973, P. 261. ILLUS.: HNDBK. N. AMER. IND., VOL. 7, NORTHWEST COAST, FIG. 12 LEFT, PG. 217."Florence Sheakley and Ruth Demmert, both elders, made the following comments during the Tlingit Recovering Voices Community Research Visit, March 13-March 24, 2017. These knives feature a Raven crest, and was not used for carving, but instead used for war.

FROM CARD: "ILLUS. IN USNM AR 1888, PL. 16, FIG. 59, P. 270. [Identified in USNM AR 1888 as "Mask. Representing Hooyeh, the raven, with bow and arrow of copper in his mouth..."] '... CROW AS A MAN WITH COPPER BOW AND ARROW IN ITS MOUTH.' - SWAN'S DESC. CAT. 9/8/1970 LOANED TO NAT. GALL. ART. 9/22/1970 RETURNED FROM NGA." IDENTIFIED AS MASK COMBINING RAVEN AND KILLER WHALE ELEMENTS, BELLA BELLA, ON P. 189 IN DOWN FROM THE SHIMMERING SKY BY PETER MACNAIR, VANCOUVER ART GALLERY, 1998.Mask is on loan to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, from 2010 through 2027. Appendage (long orca/killer whale fin) not included in loan. Per 2009 Anthropology Conservation Treatment report by Landis Smith: Research indicates strongly that the long orca/killer whale fin fringed with human hair that extended from the back of the "cage" of the mask was most likely added after collection and not originally associated with the other part of the headdress. It has therefore been removed for exhibit, as per curatorial/conservator's judgment. The fin had been attached to the bentwood "cage" of frame of mask with waxed thin cordage, or "fake sinew " - this was added in 1998 for an exhibit. Previously the fin was attached with wire (see ACL Conservation Treatment Report 4/1998).Source of the information below: Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center Alaska Native Collections: Sharing Knowledge website, by Aron Crowell, entry on the mask http://alaska.si.edu/record.asp?id=631 , retrieved 5-9-2012: Mask, Haida. This mask of a bird with copper bow and arrows in its beak may represent a story from Haida tradition. The sky god, Shining Heavens, is raised by the daughter of a chief; when she makes him a bow and arrows from her copper bracelets, he shoots a wren, a cormorant, and a blue jay, putting on the skins to become different kinds of clouds in the sky. Copper ornaments on the mask may be stars.