by Alert Bay history
‘Namgis Bighouse, next to the world’s tallest totem pole
the front doors of the U’Mista Cultural Centre
As I mentioned in my first Alert Bay post, we learned, unfortunately for us, that the U’Mista Cultural Centre was closed for two reasons, one that it was now on the fall/winter schedule with a Monday closing, and secondly and more seriously because of a recent fire.
In our wanderings around the village, we came upon U’Mista with its stunning doorside panels. I’m sorry I did not get a good picture of the larger structure. Unable to go inside, I thus want to point out their excellent website which I’ve been studying several times. For starters, the meaning of U’Mista is enlightening:
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.
Do have a look at the gorgeous masks in the collection.
I’m grateful for websites like this and that we had managed a visit to Quadra Island’s Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre with its similar masks and other works, their stories and their sad history with the arrival of the Europeans.
Here’s more about that history.
November 4, 2013 in Anthropology, Canada and BC, Culture, History, Travel by Marja-Leena
Thank you Marja-Leena, especially for the link to the masks. These are tremendous. I very much like the colours that are used. The building at the top of this post is simply beautiful.
I’m pleased to say that this post popped up correctly on my blogroll. Whoopee, back to normal, perhaps.
Olga, that is good news about my blog’s return to your blogroll. Erika tweaked something there so that must have done the trick! I hope that it also works for some of my other readers who have been having the same problem.
And I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the masks, they truly are gorgeous.
The masks pictured at that website really are extraordinary; the history of what happened after the influx of Europeans is less so. I enjoyed the story about ransoming or re-capturing band members as defining u’mista.
The photographs are up to your usual high standard. It’s a shame the museum was closed while you were there.
Susan, I’m glad this was of interest. The First Nations’ difficult journey of revival of their culture is good to see. I am having a difficult time writing the next post about their residential school experiences.
What interesting masks–so sorry you did not get to go in!
Marly, thank, we’ll have to visit another time.