June is National Indigenous History Month and in keeping with our ongoing commitment to meaningfully respond to the calls to action made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, we wanted to share a number of important new acquisitions to the museum collection. 

These objects will help us share the stories of the Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Nations, and highlight the significant contributions of Indigenous leaders to the preservation of Indigenous culture, languages, and the advocation of Indigenous rights.

The NVMA worked closely with the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations to develop the exhibits and stories to be featured in the new Museum of North Vancouver (opening in late-2020).

Portrait of Chief Dan George by Canadian painter Robert Genn

A rare portrait by famed Canadian landscape painter Robert Genn (1936-2014) of Tsleil-Waututh Chief Dan George (1899-1981).

Dan George (born Geswanouth Slahoot) was raised on Burrard Indian Reserve #3 and became a student at North Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Indian Residential School when he was five years of age. The son of hereditary chief George Sla-holt, he spent much of his working life as a longshoreman and logger; he did not start his acting career until the age of 60. 

Portrait of Tsleil-Waututh Chief Dan George by Robert Genn. Photo: Karen Dearlove.

During the 1960s and 70s he appeared in many television, movie, and stage productions in which he worked to promote better understanding of First Nations people and challenged the commonly viewed portrayal of First Nations people on screen.

Nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the film Little Big Man (1970), he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1971.

Chief Dan George came to national attention as an advocate for Indigenous rights with his impassioned speech “Lament for Confederation” delivered in Vancouver during the celebrations of Canada’s centennial in 1967.

NVMA’s travelling exhibit “Chief Dan George: Actor and Activist” was developed in close collaboration with members of the George family and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

Want to learn more? The NVMA’s school program inspired by the exhibit is available here. 

This Talking stick belonged to Dominic Charlie (1886-1972). Photo: Karen Dearlove.

Dominic Charlie, 1972. Photo: NVMA 16013

Dominic Charlie Talking Stick

The Talking stick is a powerful communication tool used in many Indigenous cultures.

Used in meetings, ceremonies and other cultural events, the Talking stick ensured a code of conduct and respect. Only the person holding the Talking stick is designated having the right to speak, while all others are required to listen respectfully. 

This Talking stick belonged to Dominic Charlie (1886-1972), a significant Squamish cultural leader. Dominic Charlie was a sxwayxwey dancer, and performed during the Provincial Centennial Celebrations (1958), and danced publicly into his 80s. He was also known as a prophet who could foretell the weather.

The NVMA would like to thank Don Reid, whose generosity made this acquisition possible.

This briefcase is similar to the one Chief Joe Capilano (1850-1910) brought to London in 1906. NVMA: 1906-5.

Basket Briefcase

Purchased for the NVMA collection in 2016, a cedar briefcase woven (shown above) using the Coast Salish split-root coil technique dates to the early 20th century, and is representative of the move towards non-traditional basketry items often produced for sale. 

This briefcase is similar to the one Chief Joe Capilano (1850-1910) brought to London in 1906, when he led a delegation of B.C. Chiefs to present a petition to King Edward VII.

The petition expressed their grievances, that Indigenous title to the land had never been extinguished, that settlers had moved onto the land without permission, that appeals to the Canadian government had been fruitless, and that Indigenous people, who at that time lacked the vote, were not consulted by Indian agents on matters affecting their lives.

Watch for these incredible objects to be featured at the new Museum of North Vancouver (opening in late-2020) in the years to come. For more about our museum collection, check out our website.