Bear house post sculptures in the foyer at the Museum of Anthropology.

Foyer at the Museum of Anthropology looking down the ramp.

Image depicts a Haida man identified as Chief Gold dressed in what appears to be a ceremonial Chilkat robe and woven hat standing in front of a house with a housepost at centre. Photograph was taken at Moresby Island in Haida Gwaii, B. C. Printed around the border of the image is the photographer information "PHOTOGRAPHED BY R. MAYNARD, VICTORIA, . . . B. C." Handwritten inscription on the border reads "Gold Harbour Chief Q. Ch. Is.". Printed on the verso is the photographer information with the inscription "R. Maynard, Photographic Artist, AND DEALER IN ALL KINDS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS, COR. OF DOUGLAS AND JOHNSON STS., VICTORIA, B. C. -- Views of British Columbia and Vancouver Island for Sale." A handwritten inscription reads "Gold Harbour Chief".

Grizzly Bear House posts in situ on Gilford Island. These were later removed and taken to the University of British Columbia. They are currently housed at the Museum of Anthropology.

Grizzly Bear House posts in situ on Gilford Island. These were later removed and taken to the University of British Columbia. They are currently housed at the Museum of Anthropology.

Grizzly Bear House posts in situ on Gilford Island. These were later removed and taken to the University of British Columbia. They are currently housed at the Museum of Anthropology.

Grizzly Bear House posts in situ on Gilford Island. These were later removed and taken to the University of British Columbia. They are currently housed at the Museum of Anthropology.

Harry Hawthorn and an unidentified man holding a house post figure. This photograph was likely taken around the time the object was acquired, in 1948.

A house frontal totem pole said to be from Oweekeno. This appears to be the totem pole that was taken from Rivers Inlet to the Museum of Anthropology in 1956, as part of the B.C. Totem Pole Preservation Committee.

Image of an old house post on Anthony Island, Haida Gwaii. This appears to the same as a post now housed at the Museum of Anthropology. This museum item is decribed as follows: "The lower section of a totem, crescent shaped in cross section, carved in shallow and deep relief. From top to bottom: bear with protruding tongue and raven on body, kneeling on head of unknown creature... Figures probably from historical narratives owned by lineages of house owner and wife. Grizzly bear was a crest of the lineages of the 'Striped Town People' and 'Sand Town People' of the Raven Moiety, to one of which the husband may have belonged. The supernatural Snag was also a crest of the 'Striped Town People'. Human arms of the raven or cormorant may indicate ability to transform from animal to human."

House frontal totem poles in situ near Fort Rupert. These were removed and stood in Totem Park at U.B.C. for several years before they were transferred to the new Museum of Anthropology.

House post figures flank a door frame in Montréal

House post figures flank a door frame in Montréal

House post figures flank a door frame in Montréal

House post figures flank a door frame in Montréal

Image of a house post on Anthony Island, Haida Gwaii. This appears to be a post now housed at the Museum of Anthropology (museum item #A50016). This museum item is described as follows: "Totem, crescent shaped in cross section, carved in shallow and deep relief. From top to bottom: human with hands at right angles and fingertips touching. The arms are folded with the elbows resting on squared ears of figure below. Enclosed within this frame is a small human/hawk face with beak, surmounting the head, shoulders, and forepaws of an emerging bear cub. At the base is a bear from whose ears frogs look downward. The bear has curled nostrils; upturned mouth, raised forearms with five fingers folded over each palm, small human face between forearms... Stood at centre of back wall inside house called 'Raven House', belonging to the lineage of the'Sand Town People' of Raven moiety of Kunghit Haida. MacDonald lists it as house number 17... Pole standing when collected...Figures are crests belonging to the lineage of the owners of the house, the 'Sand Town People' of the Raven moiety. They may also refer to the Bear Mother myth."

Image of a house post on Anthony Island, Haida Gwaii. This appears to be a post now housed at the Museum of Anthropology (museum item #A50016). This museum item is described as follows: "Totem, crescent shaped in cross section, carved in shallow and deep relief. From top to bottom: human with hands at right angles and fingertips touching. The arms are folded with the elbows resting on squared ears of figure below. Enclosed within this frame is a small human/hawk face with beak, surmounting the head, shoulders, and forepaws of an emerging bear cub. At the base is a bear from whose ears frogs look downward. The bear has curled nostrils; upturned mouth, raised forearms with five fingers folded over each palm, small human face between forearms... Stood at centre of back wall inside house called 'Raven House', belonging to the lineage of the'Sand Town People' of Raven moiety of Kunghit Haida. MacDonald lists it as house number 17... Pole standing when collected...Figures are crests belonging to the lineage of the owners of the house, the 'Sand Town People' of the Raven moiety. They may also refer to the Bear Mother myth."