Gifted to the U'mista Cultural Centre, Alert Bay, British Columbia
“The Meaning of "U'mista" - In earlier days, people were sometimes taken captive by raiding parties. When they returned to their homes, either through payment of ransom or by a raid, they were said to have u'mista. The return of our treasures from distant museums is a form of u'mista.”
The potlatch was banned in Canada between 1885 and 1951. The masks and other regalia honoured here were confiscated by the Canadian government in 1921. After the ban was lifted, the Kwakwaka'wakw people fought for decades for the return of their sacred regalia that had ended up in museum and private collections around the world. Most of the regalia has come home and it is reverently displayed at the U'mista Cultural Centre and at the Nuyumbalees Museum.” - www.umista.ca
This work was inspired by time the artist was graciously permitted to spend sketching amongst the sacred regalia, masks and coppers housed within a cedar room at the U’mista Cultural Centre. Imprisoned for too long, this room was made especially to house them upon their repatriation.
12x12" Seal bone, Hand stitching, jute on re-purposed fabric, Acrylic on canvas