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Image of the houseposts and beam of what once was a longhouse in Quatsino, BC, on the north end of Vancouver Island. These posts appear to be the same as posts now houses at the Museum of Anthropology (museum item number A50009 a-c). The poles are described on the museum's catalogue: "Two upright posts and crossbeam that were part of a large interior house frame (also see records d-f and g-h). The uprights depict sea lions carved in high relief and painted (parts a-b). Their heads are equal size to their bodies. Both part a and b have an eagle in profile within the sea lions front flippers. Part a has a top portion of a face painted on the back of its head that is part of a sisiutl that runs down the seal lions back and into its hind flipper with a serpent's head in each. The cross-beam (part c) is painted and carved as a supernatural double-headed sea lion. All parts are painted black and white with Northwest Coast stylized forms... The Klix'ken (sea lion) House was commissioned by Tza'kyius around 1906, and was the last old style house erected in Xwatis. The beams and figures stood as part of a house frame, and acted as structural supports. Figures represented on house frames were supernatural beings which the family living in the house had the right, through their history and origins, to represent."

Image of two old house posts on Hope Island, BC. The post on the right appears to be the same as a post now housed at the Museum of Anthropology, that was collected from Hope Island in 1956. Both posts feature a human figure with large eyes. On one post, the figure is holding a small face near its waist. On the other post, the figure is holding what appears to be an animal of some kind. The Museum of Anthropology's website provides the following description of the posts: "The posts of the unfinished house of Ha'm'cit were carved by a man from Smith Inlet called Si.wit who moved to Xu'mtaspi and married Tom Omhyid's mother. Ha'm'cit died before the house was finished. (Information provided to Prof. Wilson Duff by Mungo Martin). The artist's potlatch name was P'aczsmaxw. Wayne Suttles places the Xu'mtaspi village as Nahwitti, in historic times, however it was occupied jointly by the Nahwitti, the Yalhinuxw, and the Noqemqilisala (of Hanson Lagoon)."

Image of two old house posts on Hope Island, BC. The post on the right appears to be the same as a post now housed at the Museum of Anthropology, that was collected from Hope Island in 1956. Both posts feature a human figure with large eyes. On one post, the figure is holding a small face near its waist. On the other post, the figure is holding what appears to be an animal of some kind. The Museum of Anthropology's website provides the following description of the posts: "The posts of the unfinished house of Ha'm'cit were carved by a man from Smith Inlet called Si.wit who moved to Xu'mtaspi and married Tom Omhyid's mother. Ha'm'cit died before the house was finished. (Information provided to Prof. Wilson Duff by Mungo Martin). The artist's potlatch name was P'aczsmaxw. Wayne Suttles places the Xu'mtaspi village as Nahwitti, in historic times, however it was occupied jointly by the Nahwitti, the Yalhinuxw, and the Noqemqilisala (of Hanson Lagoon)."

Item is a photograph of two men performing a dance while a crowd watches. The man on the right in ceremonial dress (button blanket, cedar bark headdress) is Willie Seewid [Seaweed; Sewid?], who carved the crooked beak mask with cedar strips that is worn by the other dancer on the left.

Item is a photograph of a crowd of people in ceremonial dress and regular clothes watching two people performing a mask dance. One person wears a crooked beak [four-faced?] mask while the other is wearing a button blanket and headdress. Willie Seewid [Seaweed; Sewid?] is the man on the left looking at the dancer - noted by William Wasden Jr., 2005/02/22.

Item is a photograph of a procession of people (men, women, children) in ceremonial dress (button blankets, headdresses) walking away from the ferry terminal dock [?] in Alert Bay. The procession is led by Mungo Martin and Daisy Neel. A man dressed in regular clothes, smoking a pipe looks on from the left.

Item is a photograph of four men dancing in ceremonial dress (button blankets, carved [eagle?] mask with cedar strips) performing a ceremonial dance in front of a crowd of on-lookers. The man second from the left is Willie Sewid [Seaweed; Seewid?].

Item is a photograph of a procession of people walking down a road in Alert Bay in ceremonial dress (button blankets, headdresses) and regular clothes. Mungo Martin and Daisy Neel lead the group in the front row.

Item is a photograph of three young women, and two young girls standing in ceremonial dress (button blankets; carved and painted [wolf?] mask; and headdresses made of woven cedar, weasel(?), abalone, and eagle feathers). They are gathered for an event celebrating British Columbia's centennial in Alert Bay in 1958. Daisy Neel is in the centre wearing the frontlet and her twin sisters are the young girls in front of her. Emma Sewid [Seewid; Seaweed?] and Mabel Sewid [Seewid; Seaweed?] are on either sides of them.

Item is a photograph of men gathered together for an event celebrating British Columbia's centennial in Alert Bay in 1958. They are sitting down in front of a painted wall and some are wearing ceremonial dress, such as button blankets and woven cedar headbands. A drum and a painted dance screen [thunderbird?] on fabric are also visible. Men in the photograph include: Charles Nowell, Billy Assu, and George Scow.

Fonds consists of records relating to the numerous culture and language projects that Powell and Jensen worked on since 1976. The communities with which they worked include:
• The Quileute of La Push
• The Kwakwaka’wakw of Alert Bay
• The Gitxsan of Kispiox, Gitanyow, and surrounding villages
• The Nuu-chah-nulth of Vancouver Island
• The Musqueam of Vancouver
• The Seton Lake St'at'imc (Lillooet) of Shalalth
• The Shuswap of Alkali Lake, Soda Creek, Dog Creek, Canim Lake, and Sugar Cane
• The Haisla of Kitamaat
• The Nisga’a of Gingolx (Kincolith) and New Aiyansh

Most of the projects had an end goal to produce a book, language education materials, or teacher training materials. Often the education materials incorporated cultural lessons throughout. The records created in the production of the books are varied and reflect the intrinsic connection between language, culture, and daily activities in the communities. Powell and Jensen were co-editors for nearly all of the language books and materials produced. Although some of the projects reflected in the records were done primarily by Powell or primarily by Jensen, the vast majority of the work involves collaboration between the two in some aspect. As Jensen and Powell immersed themselves in the communities they worked for, often their personal photographs and records are interspersed with those relating to their work. This community involvement enhanced their relationships with the people with whom they were working and allowed them to experience and participate in cultural activities as part of those communities. This close relationship is reflected in and is integral to their work. Jensen and Powell have two sons: Nels, born in 1978, and Luke, born in 1981. Their sons travelled with them to the communities in which they worked and lived, and on their work trips and sabbaticals. Nels and Luke are also present in many of the photographic records.

The records contain a mixture of research, field notes, administrative records, and publications at various stages, in addition to audio and visual records. Field notes, for the most part handwritten, and archival research into language and culture groups was undertaken by Powell, whilst the majority of the photography, found in a variety of formats, was done by Jensen. Manuscripts and final publications were a combined effort and are included at various stages. Administrative records, including grant proposals, are found throughout.

Fonds consists of 13 series of records. Series are arranged according to community and/or project, and include:

1. Quileute
2. Chinook Jargon
3. Kwak’wala (U’Mista)
4. Gitxsan
5. Nuu-chah-nulth
6. Salishan
7. Shuswap
8. Haisla
9. Tait
10. Northwest Coast artists
11. Northwest Coast groups
12. UBC totems/events
13. Publications

Image of Kwakwaka'wakw masks display at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.

Image of Kwakwaka'wakw masks and material culture display at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.

Image of Kwakwaka'wakw masks display at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.

Image of Kwakwaka'wakw masks display at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.