A group of WitsuwitB次元官网网址檈n hereditary chiefs, elders, artists, and youth will visit Paris this month to view a historic totem pole taken from their territory nearly a century ago. The KB次元官网网址櫭玤it pole was sold under pressure in the late 1930s, and has since been housed at the Quai Branly B次元官网网址� Jacques Chirac Museum since 2001.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 quite emotional when I think about our people,B次元官网网址� said Hagwilnekhlh Ron Mitchell, current House Chief of the CB次元官网网址檌negh Lhay Yikh (House of Many Eyes) of the Likhsilyu Clan (Small Frog). B次元官网网址淚 will be happy to see the totem pole and a part of our house and chiefB次元官网网址檚 history, but sad at the same time.B次元官网网址�
In 1938, surrealist artist Kurt Seligmann travelled to B.C. to purchase a totem pole, driven by his fascination with Northwest Coast Indigenous art. After consulting with anthropologist Marius Barbeau, who had studied the regionB次元官网网址檚 totem poles, Seligmann selected the KB次元官网网址櫭玤it pole from the WitsuwitB次元官网网址檈n village of Ts毛 Cakh (Hagwilget). The pole, revered for its age and craftsmanship, depicts the story of KB次元官网网址櫭玤it, a supernatural figure. It was originally raised in the early to mid-1800s by CB次元官网网址檌dimsgginB次元官网网址櫭痵, a former house chief of CB次元官网网址檌negh Lhay Yikh.
The delegation asserts that the pole was sold under duress. With backing from the Department of Indian Affairs and the local Indian Agent, Seligmann purchased the pole from Likhsilyu House Chief Hagwilnekhlh Arthur Michell and other WitsuwitB次元官网网址檈n members for a mere $100. The community leaders were pressured into agreeing to the sale, which resulted in the pole being shipped to Paris. It was displayed at the Mus茅e de lB次元官网网址檋omme (Museum of Man) before being moved to the Quai Branly Museum.
SD54 District Principal of Indigenous Education B次元官网网址橧lhdesinon Birdy Markert, a descendant of the poleB次元官网网址檚 original sellers, views the visit as a step toward healing. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an emotional uncovering of past stories regarding our traditions that are difficult to pull apart,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 want young people to understand what our ancestors went through as they dealt with colonization and how hard they fought to keep our culture and traditions alive.B次元官网网址�
No decision has been made regarding the pole's rematriation. As this is their first visit, the group said it's too early to determine the outcome. Other options may include carving a replica or creating a cultural exchange.
Master Carver Dz茂ggot Ron Austin, who is part of the delegation, is eager to see the pole from an artistic standpoint: B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an amazing opportunity to see the pole that may have belonged to my grandmotherB次元官网网址檚 older brother. It means a lot as an artist to see what my ancestors created before me in person.B次元官网网址�
The delegation hopes the journey will help restore and strengthen the WitsuwitB次元官网网址檈nB次元官网网址檚 cultural ties to the KB次元官网网址櫭玤it pole, contributing to ongoing revitalization efforts for their community.
"Our stories shared on tsB次元官网网址檃n (totem poles) are such an integral part of our identity," delegation member TsB次元官网网址檃k毛 zeB次元官网网址� WestB次元官网网址檈s Sandra Martin Harris said. "To visit this pole and connect with the history it holds is both painful and healing."
