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Archival description
Canada First Nations With digital objects
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Vickie Jensen and Jay Powell fonds

  • 3
  • Fonds
  • 1969-2008

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

Vickie Jensen and Jay Powell

The Pacific Passage

Image depicts the exhibition The Pacific Passage installed at the Vancouver International Airport. The focal point of the photograph is Hetux, a large Thunderbird sculpture created by artist Connie Watts (Nuu-chah-nulth, Gitxsan and Kwakwaka'wakw).

Masset Village

Image depicts canoes, house, house posts, and totem poles on a shoreline in Masset, Haida Gwaii, B. C. Handwritten inscription on the verso reads "This is a Indian Village in Masset B. C. at the turn of the century. As you can see there are a lot of wooden shacks, totem poles and canoes. it is a very wild and remote area [redacted]. grandfather Crosby used to travel to these remoat [sic] villages by canoe." Image appears to be reproduction of a039351.

Chief Skedan

Image depicts exterior view of small house built within the frame of the House Chiefs Peep at from a Distance with two Watchmen figures with potlatch hats sitting atop the corner posts of the original house and frontal pole. On the left is a mortuary pole raised for Skedans, head chief of Skedans village with Skedan's crests: a moon with a Thunderbird face at top, mountain goat, and grizzly bear at the base. House is located in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii, B. C. Image appears to be reproduction of a039355.

Out of the Silence

Image of 2 of the 4 weavings that comprise Out of the Silence on display at the Vancouver International Airport. The weavings were made by Musqueam artists Krista Point, Robyn Sparrow, Debra Sparrow, Gina Grant and Helen Callbreath.

Charlie James totem pole

Image of totem pole carved by Charles James.

The pole was re-adzed and re-painted by Kwakwaka'wakw carver Mungo Martin before shipping to UBC in 1947. Repainted and repaired by Ellen Neel (1949) and by Mungo Martin (1950-51). It stood at Totem Pole Park, UBC Campus until it was re-located to the Museum's Great Hall ca. 1976.

Anthony Carter

Tall totem pole, Alert Bay, BC

Photograph of a totem pole in Alert Bay, BC. This pole has been called the world's tallest totem pole, though this is a disputed fact since it is actually comprised of two pieces. The pole is not specific to a particular family, but represents multiple tribes of the Kwakwaka'wakw. The pole was completed in the late 1960's and raised in 1973. It is located near the Big House.

Mildred Laurie

George Hunt Sr. pole (Kwakwaka’wakw)

Image of totem pole carved by George Hunt Sr. The pole is now part of the museum's collection.
This pole was originally carved for the Edward S. Curtis film "In the Land of the War Canoes" which was originally titled "In the Land of the Head Hunters". The pole was repaired and re-painted by carvers Ellen Neel in 1949 and Mungo Martin in 1950-51. It stood at Totem Park, UBC Campus until it was re-located to the Museum's Great Hall in 1976.

Anthony Carter

Feast dish

Image of a feast dish. This dish is now part of MOA's object collection.

Anthony Carter

Kyuquot from the air

An image of an aerial view of the Kyuquot village. According to the documentation included with the filmstrip, the description of the image states "Kyuquot from the air. You can see Walter's Island and out into the Pacific Ocean. The next Island to the right is Aktis Island, the ancestral home of the Kyuquot Band. In the early 1800's the Kyuquot Band was the largest on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. However one night in 1855 the Clayoquots, enemies to the Kyoquots, surprised the Kyuquot Village on Atkis Isl., cut off the heads of the Kyuquot warriers, took the women as slaves, and set fire to the village. Most of the village was destroyed during this, the last tribal war fought on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. A few years ago most of the Kyuquot Band left Atkis Island and moved into Walter's Cove."

The school boat, "Betsy"

An image of children sitting on a docked boat, other children standing and walking on the dock. According to the documentation included with the filmstrip, the description of the image states "Everyone going home on the school boat/fish boat "Betsy." The boat brings the children to school at nine o'clock and takes them home at three o'clock."

The freight boat, "Patsco"

An image showing a boat docked nearby a small shed with fuel tanks and barrels standing around. According to the documentation included with the filmstrip, the description of the image states "Kyuquot's freight boat "Patsco" is shown moored to the fuel wharf. Every Thursday Patsco motors up the inlet thirty miles to the nearest road to meet the freight truck. Food for the store and heavy items come in on Patsco. Can you see the fuel drums and propane tanks on the wharf?"

Spring Salmon fishing

An image of a man standing on a boat, wearing a red helmet, and pulling on fishing lines attached to boat equipment. According to the documentation included with the filmstrip, the description of the image states"Victor hopes to catch enough Salmon to feed his family for a few days. In the Summer he will sell his Salmon to a fish camp."

Spring Salmon fishing

An image of man holding a caught fish hanging on a fish hook. According to the documentation included with the filmstrip, the description of the image states "Victor has caught a "smilie", the word commercial fishermen use to describe a fish over twelve pounds."

Preparing salmon for drying

An image of woman cutting a salmon meat with a knife, a deer carcass hangs behind her. According to the documentation included with the filmstrip, the description of the image states "In the Fall women smoke and can thousands of dog salmon for the Winter. Here Sarah Harry is cutting the heads off the salmon. Do you see, hanging behind Sarah, the deer Ray Jr. shot?"

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