Laid Over to Cover

Photography and Weaving in the Salishan Landscape

exhibition guidE “What tempted the people of to “The whites made a government in Victoria— “As belonging to the physical world, we reckon Laid Over to Cover: undertake so gigantic a work as the Canada perhaps the Queen made it…At this time they all that we can perceive with our senses: see Pacific Railway? The difficulties in the way did not deny the Indian tribes owned the with our eyes, hear with our ears, grasp with Photogr aphy were great, unprecedented, unknown…We whole country and everything in it. They told our hands. Further, we reckon as belonging to were under the inspiration of a national idea, us we did… the physical world all that we can encompass and We aving and went forward.” with our thoughts insofar as these thoughts Gradually, as the whites of this country refer to external perception, to that which the in the Salishan “Since the Dominion was constituted, the became more and more powerful, and we less physical world can say to us. In this physical political life of Canada has centered about and less powerful, they little by little changed world we must also include all that we, as Landscape the Pacific Railway. Now that it is on the eve their policy towards us, and commenced to human beings, do within it. It might easily of completion, we see how great was the task put restrictions on us. Their government or make us pause and reflect when it is said that that three millions of people set themselves chiefs have taken every advantage of our all that we human beings do in the physical fourteen years ago to accomplish. The work friendliness, weakness and ignorance to world forms part of that world, for we must Curated by is imperial in meaning as well as magnitude, impose on us in every way… admit that when we act in the physical world, though the cost has been wholly defrayed we bring down the spiritual into that world.” david bellman by Canada. It is our contribution to the After a time when they saw that our patience organization and defense of the empire.” might get exhausted and that we might cause — Rudolf Steiner, Spiritual Beings meirion cynog evans trouble if we thought all the land was to be (Helsinki Lecture 1), 1912 — George M. Grant, The Century occupied by whites they set aside many small ( and London), reservations for us here and there over the October 1885 country. This was their proposal not ours, and we never accepted reservations as settlement for anything.”

— Excerpt from the memorandum presented to Sir Wilfred Laurier, Prime-Minister of Canada, from the Chiefs of the Shuswap, Okanagan and Couteau Tribes of . , B.C., August 25, 1910

Organized by Presentation House Gallery In collaboration with The Walter Phillips Gallery

With Support From the Audain Foundation and the North Office of Cultural Affairs.

1 “The sphere of art is a sphere of pure forms. Between Banff (Alberta) and Vancouver Ktunaxa and Proto-Salish (the ancient ancestor in terrains between the Rocky Mountains INTRODUCTION It is not a world of mere colours, sounds, (British Columbia) the Salishan landscape can of all Salishan languages) had an even earlier and the Pacific Ocean then fell to William tactile qualities—but of shapes and designs, be defined by way of certain distinctly separate relative: known as Proto-Ktunaxa-Salish, it McFarlane Notman (and his younger brothers, of melodies and rhythms. In a certain sense language groups and their self-contained predates Proto-Salish, and thus defines one of George W. Notman and Charles F. Notman). all of art may be said to be language, but it is cultural/geographical boundaries: many boundaries within the recognizable but Their partnership entailed an inspired com- language in a very specific sense. It is not a shape shifting Salishan environment. mitment to the technical rigors of nineteenth language of verbal symbols, but of intuitive Coast Salish The ’s trans- century field photography—and a high symbols. He who does not understand these Squamish/Skwxwú7mesh continental line (completed in 1885) crossed aesthetic value is inherent to their cumulative intuitive symbols, who can not feel the life Halkomelem (Upper and Lower ) extensive distances within each of the Interior archive of pictorialist documents. of colours, of shapes, of spatial forms, and and Coast Salish territories—or otherwise Throughout its gradual advance across patterns, harmony and melody, is secluded Interior Salish came within close proximity to them. C.P.R. Canada in the 1880s, the Canadian Pacific from the work of art—and by this is not only Stl’atl’imx/Lilooet managers relied heavily on photography to Railway had financially assisted in the creation deprived of aesthetic pleasure but he loses Upper/Fraser River advertise the railway’s advance across a vast, of detailed inventories of documentary pho- the approach to one of the deepest aspects of Lower/Lil’wat simultaneously occupied/unoccupied hinter- tography to both advertise its awe-inspiring culture.” Thompson/Nlaka’pamux (Upper and Lower) land. These pioneer photographers were able transcontinental line and to further publicize Shuswap/Secwepemc to record (from the outside observer’s perspec- its ambitious involvement within a wider — Ernst Cassirer, Language and Art II (Columbia Okanagan/Syilx tive) certain tangible points of contact between scheme of exploration and development. The University Seminar, 1942) aboriginal inhabitants and alien intruders. C.P.R.’s monumental support of a “New World” The neighbouring cultural territories Significantly, they found dwellings (within photographic inventory was of equal value to “What threatens us right now is probably what within the mainland Coast Salish increasingly well mapped Salishan terrain), government agencies, speculative investors, we may call over-communication—that is, linguistic region are: to be both simply constructed and plainly tourists, international newspaper editors and the tendency to know exactly in one point Sechelt/Shashishalem communal in character—an aspect that tended book publishers. of the world what is going on in all other Sliammon to invite condescension and contempt towards Functioning, as it did, without writing parts of the world. In order for a culture to any First Peoples’s presence. (within an oral tradition that embodied be really itself and to produce something, the A final linguistic region aligns the Rocky The C.P.R.’s strategic decision to com- precise ecological knowledge and its own vast culture and its members must be convinced Mountains with the Pacific Ocean— mission a programme of photographic wisdom of sustainable resources) a Salishan of their originality and even, to some extent, extending from the Continental Divide documentation—a detailed inventory of language, like the spiritual culture contained of their superiority over the others; it is only into south-western British Columbia: picturesque mountain scenery and sublime by it, could not, of course, become the subject under conditions of under-communication Kootenay/Ktunaxa and Proto-Salish (previously unrecorded) territories, terrains of photographic absorption. Aboriginal tradi- that it can produce anything. We are now and landscape features—aligned scientific tions of both (utilitarian/cedar) basket making threatened with the prospect of our being method with exploration and discovery. and (ceremonial/wool) blanket production only consumers, able to consume anything Photographer Benjamin Baltzly and his were similarly rendered unobservable by from any point in the world and from every assistant John Hammond (representatives of way of a cross-cultural paradox, as contained culture, but of losing all originality.” the William Notman Studio, ) had within the originative conception and concep- been sent west with the Geological Survey tive construction of weaving itself. Prior to — Claude Lévi-Strauss, Myth and Meaning (Massey and Canadian Pacific Railway expedition in prolonged educational contact with mis- Lectures, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 1977) 1871. As the railway neared completion, the sionary educators, the First Peoples of North Notman employees were recruited to photo- America did not distinguish between craft graph the prairies and railway construction and fine art. They had traditionally under- in the Rockies. (A private car was fitted up by stood expressions of material and spiritual the C.P.R. and hauled to the end of the existing culture to be grounded, fluently, in parallel track in 1884—thus enabling an expanded relationships of language to place, place to Notman enterprise to commemorate the final placement, and placement to purpose. In this construction phases in British Columbia’s sense (from the observable momentum of Kicking Horse Pass.) Due to the immen- contemporary practice), a pattern of persistent sity of this undertaking, William Notman invisibility projects the inherently imperma- (1826–1891) took his eldest son in partner- nent aspect of weaving as a limitless source ship, establishing, in 1880, the firm William for the recuperation and reincarnation of a Notman & Son; the task of photographing self-reflecting cultural memory.

2 3 exhibition guide: Part 1 In 1871, photographer William “Imbued in all types of ownership 5. The junction of North and South Notman (who had opened his traditions developed by Northwest at Kamloops, Montreal studio in 1856) was Coast peoples [as well as peoples BC. Aug.13–19. 1871. [Shuswap/ Benjamin Balt zly engaged by the Geological within the Interior Salish lin- Secwepemc territory] Survey of Canada to outfit their guistic divisions] are concepts of (1835 –1883): first expedition into the interior stewardship, in which an indi- of British Columbia. Benjamin vidual’s rights to use the land and 6. Cascade on the Hammond Geological Survey Baltzly, a Notman employee, its resources are contingent upon [Garnet] River, BC. Sept. 29, 1871. photographed in British their sustainable management, [Shuswap/Secwepemc territory] of Canada Columbia from mid-July and the sharing of resources with through early November. other group members…. “…the next morning there being Photogr aphs, Part of the area he recorded— In general, all lands and some signs of clearing up, I was between New Westminster waters along the Northwest Coast highly elated with the prospect 1871 and Kamloops—would become of North America [as well as of getting a view of the Mount the route chosen for the C.P.R. land and water resources within Cheadle and the cascade…. The [The GSC survey also explored traditionally inhabited Interior cascade, as seen from the foot a potential route along the regions] have been occupied, tra- of the falls, is grand beyond North Thompson river to Tête versed, and managed by groups of conception…. The height of the Jaune Cache (Yellowhead Pass) Aboriginal peoples for thousands falls is altogether about 400 feet. through the Rocky Mountains.] of years. In some cases, harvest- Far above, it runs down a narrow A precedent for Baltzly’s ing locations were frequented by canyon in angry, foaming sheets, work had been established more than one people, especially and then makes a bold leap over a by the British Army Corps of at the outer limits of territories perpendicular rock for many feet Engineers, who, between 1858 or in places where affinal and down.… The velocity of the falling and 1862, employed trained other types of social relationships water keeps up a continuous hur- photographers to document allowed overlapping use. However, ricane at the brow and foot of the their survey of the 49th Parallel, primary rights to use were almost falls and for many yards around from the Rocky Mountains to always recognized and main- the trees are kept in continual Point Roberts. tained by traditional protocols, motion with the wind and wet and were sometimes resolved with the spray. The following through outright conflicts. Land day…was very cloudy and gloomy, 1. Lytton, BC. Aug. 1, 1871. [Thom- and resource use was not not at all yet I was successful in getting a pson/Nlaka’pamux territory] casual or random, nor were lands few good views. The upper rapids and resources “freely accessible we could not get in our view, it Lytton, where the Thompson to all” as many early European being hid by the dense forests….” River joins the Fraser River, is one settlers would have liked to of the oldest, continuously inhab- believe…. — Benjamin Baltzly in The Gazette ited sites in North America. Property—such as canoes, (Montreal), July 25, 1872 weapons, and slaves—was individ- “For everything for which Art, ually owned, while family groups so-called, has hitherto been the owned names, ceremonial pre- 7. Geological Survey party at Canoe means but not the end, photogra- rogatives, and associated material River, North Thompson River, BC. phy is the allotted agent…. She is goods such as masks and dancing Oct. 1, 1871 [Shuswap/Secwepemc the sworn witness of everything regalia. The display of such wealth territory] presented to her view. What [including examples of fine—tech- are her unerring records in the nically distinguished—weaving] service of mechanics, engineer- was an important social function 8. Making Portage over the Bluff ing, geology, and natural history, in Salish society.” at the Upper Gate of Murchison’s but facts of the most sterling and Rapids in the North Thompson stubborn kind…facts which are — Nancy J. Turner, Robin Smith, and James River, BC. Nov. 7, 1871. [Shuswap/ neither the province of art nor of T. Jones, Keeping It Living: Traditions Secwepemc territory] description, but that of a new form of Plant Use and Cultivation on the of communication between man Northwest Coast of North America. “At 6:45 commenced packing and man—neither letter, message, tents and baggage over portage, nor picture—which now happily and descended the river for about fills up the space between them?” 4. Aboriginal encampment on the one mile of still water to the head North Thompson River, BC. Aug. of the rapids, through the second — Lady Elizabeth Eastlake, “Photography,” 2–3. 1871. [Shuswap/Secwepemc gate or Porte d’Enfer [Hell’s in London Quarterly Review (1857) territory] Gate]…. Got all the baggage over the portage, about three-quarters “A railway that ran past a Native of a mile, and camped on the edge 2. On the North Thompson River, village was far more than an of the pool below.” two miles from Lytton. BC. Aug. 1–2. intrusive symbol of white power; 1871. [Thompson/Nlaka’pamux it redefined the ‘surfaces’ of life — A.R.C. Selwyn, “Journal and Report territory] in that place, making local people of Preliminary Explorations in British more self-conscious, situating them Columbia,” in Report of Progress for 1871– within a global, rationalized civili- 72, Geological Survey of Canada (Montreal). 3. Aboriginal Encampment on zation, taking away their integrity.” the North Thompson River (near 9. Murchison’s Rapids, North Bonaparte) BC. Aug. 2–3, 1871. — Cole Harris, The Resettlement Thompson River, BC. Nov. 8–9, 1871. [Shuswap/Secwepemc territory] of British Columbia. [Shuswap/Secwepemc territory]

4 5 exhibition guide: Part 2 Charles MacMunn (1840?–1903) 11. Quoi Ek Bridge (located 13 [Kootenay/Ktunaxa territory, His second trip, in 1887, is worked as an itinerant com- miles above Keefers) View No. l reaching west to Okanagan/Syilx, noteworthy for two reasons: he mercial photographer. Despite (looking south), 1883. [Thompson/ and north to Shuswap/Secwepemc had the use of “Photographic Field not having obtained a C.P.R. Nlaka’pamux territory] Charles territories] A. B. Thom. Car No. One” (a professionally contract, he produced an exten- MacMunn. equipped studio, complete with Photogr aphy sive documentary record along The Kootenay/Ktunaxa peoples living quarters), and was pho- the first routes of railway con- were notably early in accept- tographing at that time with a and the struction in British Columbia. 12. Quoi Ek Trusses, 1883. ing Christianity. In the course large-format camera that took [Thompson/Nlaka’pamux terri- of his journeys with the Palliser “mammoth” plate negatives, Canadian Alexander Barton Thom tory] Charles MacMunn. Expedition (1857–1860), explorer 16 x 20 inches and larger. (The (1849–1926) visited England James Hector visited their aborigi- C.P.R. Company used enlarge- Pacific briefly in early 1887 to obtain nal territories, observing: “They ments from these negatives a special lens (designed for 13. The Quoi Ek Cutting, 55 are all very religious, having been for prints that were hung in R ailway taking mountain views). He feet deep, 1883 [Thompson/ converted by the Roman Catholic 1888 in various buildings in photographed in Salishan ter- Nlaka’pamux territory] Charles priests [who first arrived among Vancouver.) ritories from 1887 to 1889. From MacMunn. them in the 1840s]. Frequently, A precedent for Baltzly’s 1885 to 1889, and possibly later, and at stated times, a bell is rung work had been established he spent his winters traveling in the camp, and all who are by the British Army Corps of through the USA and England, 14. Scow Wash Spans (3 miles within hearing at once go down Royal Engineers, who, between giving illustrated talks about above Keefers), 1883. [Thompson/ on their knees and pray.” 1858 and 1862, employed his fieldwork Nlaka’pamux territory] Charles trained photographers to MacMunn. document their survey of the 23. The highest wooden bridge in the 49th Parallel (from the Rockies 10. Housing built for Chinese world (height: 296 ft.), Stoney Creek to Point Roberts). In 1867, labourers, opposite Keefer Station 15. Highest Trestle on the Road Bridge, BC,1886–87. [Kootenay/ similar work was conducted (between Lytton and North Bend), Below Keefers, 1883. [Thompson/ Ktunaxa territory, reaching west by the photographer Timothy 1883. Charles MacMunn. Nlaka’pamux territory] Charles to Okanagan/Syilx, and north to O’Sullivan, who documented [Thompson/Nlaka’pamux MacMunn. Shuswap/Secwepemc territories] the official Geological territory] A. B. Thom. Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel. “A common—and erroneous claim 16. Salmon [Nahatlatch] River Bridge has been that Orientals were used (located 9 miles above Boston Bar, 24. Interior of snow shed, Summit as slave labour. The facts, as far as 1883. [Thompson/Nlaka’pamux of , BC, 1886–87. 28. Van Horne Range (north the use of Chinese on construction territory] Charles MacMunn. [Kootenay/Ktunaxa territory, of Kicking Horse Pass/west of of the Canadian Pacific trans- reaching west to Okanagan/Syilx, Otterhead River), on the C.P.R., continental is concerned, are that and north to Shuswap/Secwepemc 1887. [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and men for these gangs were brought 17. Railway track and snow shed #17, territories] A. B. Thom. Shuswap/Secwepemc territory] from the Orient by entrepre- Rocky Mountain Range, BC, about neurs or labour agents who were 1887. [Thompson/Nlaka’pamux themselves Chinese or of Chinese territory] A. B. Thom. 25. Albert Canyon, Illecillewaet 29. The Great Glacier (Illecillewaet extraction. They were organized River, BC, 1886–87. A. B. Thom. Glacier), BC, 1887. [Kootenay/ into gangs of approximately thirty [Kootenay/Ktunaxa territory, Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ men each; each gang selected one 18. Tenth Crossing of Kicking Horse reaching west to Okanagan/Syilx, Secwepemc territories] man from among its number to River, BC, 1886–87. [Kootenay/ and north to Shuswap/Secwepemc receive all wages, pay expenses for Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ territories] A. B. Thom. Between 1880 and 1885, Major A.B. food and supplies, then allocate Secwepemc territory] A. B. Thom. Rogers (an engineer in charge of the remainder to individual the C.P.R.’s mountain division) members of the gang..” 26. Even’s Ranch, Thompson River, had surveyed a route through the 19. Cathedral Mountain, Summit Ashcroft, 1886–87. [Shuswap/ Rocky and Selkirk mountains. — Omer Lavallée, Van Horne’s Road of the Rockies (near Field), BC, Secwepemc territory] A. B. Thom. 1886–87. [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and “In those days everything was Shuswap/Secwepemc territory] 30. Rogers Pass and Mount Carroll done by hand; bridges had to be A. B. Thom. 27. Otter Tail Bridge (Kicking on the C.P.R., BC, 1887. [Kootenay/ built, and tunnels driven by hand- Horse Valley, Ottertail Range), BC, Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ drilling; grades had to be cut about 1894. [Shuswap/Secwepemc Secwepemc territories] through solid rock, as well as open 20. Seventh and Eighth C.P.R. Cros- territory] A. B. Thom. cuts, all by hand. It was hammers sing, Kicking Horse Canyon, BC, In 1881, Major Rogers and his and drills, picks and shovels, 1886–87. [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and son Albert—accompanied by blasting night and day…. ” Shuswap/Secwepemc territory] A. William McFarlane Notman ten Shuswap guides—climbed B. Thom. (1857–1913) made his first Avalanche Mountain, from — W. H. Holmes, Some Memories of the trip to Western Canada in where he determined a continu- Construction of the C.P.R. in the 1883. His father, the famous ing course for the C.P.R.’s line . 21. Kicking Horse Canyon, Selkirk Montreal-based photographer, (through the mountains, between Mountains in distance, BC, 1886–87. had arranged with William Banff and the Pacific.) On 24 July, [On March 13, 1885, British [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ Van Horne (C.P.R. President) 1882, he discovered the route that Columbia passed the Chinese Secwepcmc territory] A. B. Thom. that in return for free trans- carries his name. Restriction Act—refusing entry to portation to any point on the Chinese immigrants. The federal line, his studio would make government disallowed the legis- 22. West view of Stoney Creek prints available to the C.P.R. 31. Glacier hotel and mountains, lation, eighteen days later.] Bridge with passenger train (for their own advertising and BC, 1887. [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and (near Roger’s Pass), BC, 1886–87. publicity purposes). Shuswap/Secwepemc territories]

6 7 32. A bit of track near Glacier, BC, [Spuzzum, the place, is a variant Aboriginal burying ground, near however, the region’s ‘natural local Nlaka’pamux people. In his “The clearest way into the discretionary authority over seeking a ranch, the fruit-grower 1887. [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and of a Chinook word, “spatsum”—a Yale, BC, 1887. [Thompson territory] abundance’ was, in many respects, journal, he observed of the site: Universe is through a forest Native food fisheries. British in want of an orchard, the miner Shuswap/Secwepemc territories] reed used in basket-making.] not natural but the byproduct of “Surely this is the gate of hell.” wilderness.” Columbia’s First Peoples were in quest of gold, silver or other long-term intervention.” The site is located 16 km above mentioned in the act only to precious metals, the lumberman, “Making a basket was a complex 45. Aboriginal drying fish, near Lytton, on the Thompson River. — John Muir (1838–1914), campaigner for indicate that the Department of the fisherman, the business man, 33. Albert Canyon, on the C.P.R., and highly evolved skill. It Yale, BC, 1887. [Thompson/ — Douglas Deur and Nancy J. Turner, C.P.R. construction through the North American nature reserves; founder Fisheries might allow them, at its or the capitalist, whether large BC, 1887. [Shuswap/Secwepemc involved forming three dimen- Nlaka’pamux and Halkomelem Keeping It Living: Traditions of Plant Fraser Canyon took four years and of The Sierra Club (1892). discretion, “to fish for their own or small, who seeks investment territory] sional space from linear material territories] Use and Cultivation on the Northwest was completed in 1884. use.” (Authorized to issue leases for his money. It is a magnificent and in that sense was an exercise Coast of North America. or licenses up to nine years in country of great possibilities and in geometry. It also involved an 61. Summer and winter tracks addition to establishing basic rules certainties to the persevering, 34. South Thompson River and understanding of the chemistry of 46. Royal City Saw Mills, 55. Spruce tree, Stanley Park, near Glacier Park, BC, 1897. about how and when fish might frugal and industrious, and one mountains, Kamloops, BC, 1887. the material being worked with.… New Westminster, BC, 1887. 48. C.P.R. Hotel, Vancouver, BC, Vancouver, BC, 1889. [Squamish/ [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ be caught, and setting out fines for which offers countless opportuni- [Shuswap/Secwepemc territory] So, between the hand, the heart [Halkomelem territory] 1887. [Squamish/Skwxwú7mesh Skwxwú7mesh and Secwepemc territories] failure to comply—the minister of ties for all.” and the landscape, a shape was and Halkomelem territories] Halkomelem (Musqueam) Fisheries had become accepted as born, an accomplishment which territories] justices of the peace, with powers — British Columbia: Information for 35. South Thompson River, elegantly balanced the mental and 47. Forest Trees, English Bay, The hotel was officially opened on 62. Illicillewaet Valley and Hermit to convict and punish offences.) Prospectors, Miners and Intending Kamloops, BC, 1887. [Shuswap/ spiritual process with the physical Vancouver, BC, 1887. [Squamish/ May 16, 1888. “One of the most remarkable Range, Glacier Park, BC, 1897. Settlers (Canadian Pacific Railway, Secwepemc territory] work of production.” Skwxwú7mesh and Halkomelem features of Stanley Park is the [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ 1899). (Musqueam) territories] preservation in its secluded trails Secwepemc territories] 66. Emerald Lake, BC, 1904 — Eileen Delenanty Pearkes, The 49. C.P.R. station and docks, of the character of the primeval [Shuswap/Secwepemc and 36. Cisco bridge (built, 1884–85) Geography of Memory. “Many of the first explorers Vancouver, BC, 1887. [Squamish/ forest. It has often excited the Kootenay/Ktunaxa territories] 75. Siwash Rock, Vancouver, BC, on the C.P.R. (across the Thompson noted the signs of Northwest Skwxwú7mesh and Halkomelem wonder of visitors that, within 63. Mount Cheops, from Mount 1904. [Squamish/Skwxwú7mesh river, between Keefer Station and 41. Fraser Canyon showing four Coast cultivation practices…but (Musqueam) territories] a mile from busy city streets, Abbott, Glacier Park, BC, 1897. territory] Lytton) BC, 1887 [Thompson/ tunnels above Spuzzum, BC, did not recognize evidence of the pedestrian may find himself [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ 67. Kicking Horse Valley and Nlaka’pamux territory] 1887. [Thompson/Nlaka’pamux human cultivation in anthropo- apparently in the heart of the Secwepemc territories] Ottertail Range, BC, 1904. “Siwash” is a term for an ‘Indian’ territory] genic plant communities lacking 50. Lake Louise from outlet, Banff, British Columbia forest.” [Shuswap/Secwepemc and in the old Chinook Trade Jargon. rectilinear plantings divided by AB, 1889 [Shuswap/Secwepemc Kootenay/Ktunaxa territories] A Squamish First Nation legend 37. Cariboo Bridge (Alexandra “We suddenly cross the deep black picket fences, or monocultures of territory] — W. S. Rawlings [Superintendent of 64. Cedar tree, Stanley Park, tells of a dedicated young couple. Bridge) Fraser Canyon, BC, gorge of the Fraser River on a familiar plants. Traveling amidst Parks], The Park System of Vancouver, Vancouver, BC, 1897 [Squamish/ As soon as they knew they were 1887. [Thompson/Nlaka’pamux massive bridge of steel, seem- camas prairies cleared by human The lake (now part of Banff B.C. (Vancouver: Board of Park Skwxwú7mesh and Halkomelem 68. Mount Stephen, Kicking Horse to be parents they carried out territory] ingly constructed in mid-air, burning along the shores of Puget National Park) was “discovered”, Commissioners, 1925) (Musqueam) territories] Valley, BC, 1904. [Shuswap/ strict teachings to bathe and pray plunge through a tunnel, and Sound, Captain George Vancouver on August 21, 1882, by Tom Secwepemc and Kootenay/ each morning (as they had been This component of the Cariboo enter the famous canyon of the (1798) proclaimed, Wilson (a C.P.R. supply Packer), The park was officially opened in “All the Interior Salish, and also… Ktunaxa territories] taught since childhood), with Road—built in 1863 over the Fraser. The view changes from who had been led to the site 1887. [In January 1885, William the Sechelt, Squamish, Sto:lo… the added instruction to seek Fraser Canyon at Spuzzum—was the grand to the terrible. Through ‘I could not possibly believe any by local native (Stoney) guides. Cornelius Van Horne, then Vice- formerly made coiled baskets of from the Creator the strength the first suspension bridge in this gorge, so deep and narrow uncultivated country had ever William McFarlane Notman’s President of the Canadian Pacific cedar root splints decorated by 69. Natural bridge, Kicking Horse and guidance to be good parents Western Canada. Great damage in many places that the rays of been discovered exhibiting so rich photographs of the lake were the Railway, had written to Lauchlan imbrication…. The baskets were River, Field, BC, 1904. [Shuswap/ (worthy of caring for children to was caused to the road by subse- the sun hardly enter it, the black a picture. Stately forests …pleas- first to have been produced. Hamilton (C.P.R. land commis- made in a limited number of Secwepemc and Kootenay/ come). With the imminent arrival quent railway construction. The and ferocious waters of the great ingly clothed its eminences and Chateau Lake Louise—a sioner), outlining his intention to shapes for specific uses: wedge- Ktunaxa territories] of their child, the father went route fell into gradual disrepair river force their way. We are in chequered its vallies; presenting in single-storey log cabin, described reserve the same land in the name shaped burden baskets, oblong each morning on his own to bathe, (and almost total abandonment) the heart of the Cascade Range, many places, extensive spaces that by C.P.R. President Cornelius Van of the Company.] cradles, round or nut-shaped pray and fast; he would continue after the great flood of 1894—thus and above the walls of the Canyon wore the appearance of having Horne as “a hotel for the outdoor baskets for boiling water or 70. Mount Schaffer from O’Hara this routine until receiving word providing the C.P.R. with its we occasionally see the mountain been cleared by art…[we] had no adventurer and alpinist”—opened cooking, small pot-shaped baskets Lake Trail, BC, 1904. [Kootenay/ of the child’s safe birth. At the desired monopoly of the regional peaks, gleaming against the sky. reason to imagine this country in 1890. 56. Mountain Creek Bridge, for storage, and larger rectan- Ktunaxa territory] end of his life (according to the freight business. Hundreds of feet above the river had ever been indebted for its Glacier Park, BC, about 1895. gular forms for other storage.… Squamish legend), the father had is the railway, notched into the decoration to the hand of man.’ [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ Probably the volume of produc- been transformed (by the mythical face of the cliffs, now and then 51. Lower Kicking Horse Canyon, Secwepemc territories] tion will continue to decline until 71. Mount Orderay from O’Hara “Sky Brothers”) into a standing 38. Scuzzie Falls, near North crossing a great chasm by a tall Yet it is apparent that the places BC, 1889. [Shuswap/Secwepemc and these baskets become collector’s Lake Trail, BC, 1904. [Kootenay/ monolith. His monument became Bend, BC, 1887. [Thompson/ viaduct or disappearing in a described by Vancouver were Ktunaxa/Kootenay territories] items, when the craft will enjoy Ktunaxa territory] a reminder of the strength of Nlaka’pamux territory] tunnel through a projecting spur managed landscapes, cleared 57. Stoney Creek bridge, Glacier a revival…. Blankets woven of spirit required in preparing to of rock, but so well made, and so not by “art” but by people with Park, BC, about 1895. [Kootenay/ mountain goat wool and yellow become a good parent. “The snams [nature helpers thoroughly protected elsewhere, very specific technologies and 52. Loop showing four tracks on the Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ cedar bark were distinctive 72. Illecillewaet Glacier, BC, 1904. that assisted humans and that we feel no sense of danger. objectives. Burned berry patches, C.P.R. (Selkirk Mountain Range), Secwepemc territories] products of Coast Indian technol- [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ sometimes provided them with For hours we are deafened by the weeded and tended root-vegetable BC, 1889 [Shuswap/Secwepemc and ogy…. Cedar bark mats and bags, Secwepemc territories] special powers] are forgetting us roar of the waters below, and we plots containing multiple native Kootenay/Ktunaxa territories] formerly so common, have all but nowadays because of the coming pray for the broad sunshine once species; each of these places 58. Stoney Creek bridge, Glacier passed out of use. All these crafts of the white man. They are more. The scene is fascinating in represented highly modified Park, BC, about 1897. [Kootenay/ could still be revived.” 73. Indian fishing place, Fraser leaving the country.” its terror, and we finally leave it environments of a sort that was 53. Thompson Canyon near Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ Canyon, BC, 1904. [Thompson/ gladly, yet regretfully…. ” alien to the European world.… Ashcroft, BC, 1889. [Thompson/ Secwepemc territories] — Wilson Duff, The Indian History of Nlaka’pamux territory] — Chief John Tetlenitsa (Thompson/ Accordingly, impressed by the Nlaka’pamux territory] British Columbia: The Impact of the Nlaka’pamux), Spence’s Bridge, 1912. — Canadian Pacific Railway Diary, 1894 region’s abundant marine and White Man (1965). terrestrial life, explorers and 59. The Great Asulkan Glacier, 74. Fishing stand, Fraser colonists concluded that food was 54. “Jaws of Death” Gorge, on the Glacier Park, BC, 1897. [Kootenay/ Canyon, BC, 1904. [Thompson/ 39. Fraser Canyon, below North 42. Indian Farm at junction of at most times and most places C.P.R., Thompson Canyon, BC, Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ 65. Fish in river, BC, c. 1900. Nlaka’pamux territory] Bend, BC, 1887. [Thompson/ Spuzzum and Fraser Rivers, BC, naturally plentiful for the region’s 1889. [Thompson/Nlaka’pamux Secwepemc territories] [Unidentified photographer— Nlaka’pamux territory] 1887. [Thompson/Nlaka’pamux and native inhabitants. Plant culti- territory] contemporary to William “No other country has shown Halkomelem (Sto:lo) territories] vation, they assumed, had been MacFarlane Notman.] greater progress during the past unnecessary in such fecund envi- On June 26, 1808, explorer 60. Marion Lake and Mount Abbott year than British Columbia, and 40. Fraser Canyon above ronments and this had precluded Simon Fraser passed along the Glacier, Glacier Park, BC, 1897. The federal government’s it is now offering unsurpassed Spuzzum, BC, 1887. [Thompson/ 43. Fraser Canyon above Yale, BC, the emergence of indigenous cliffs on a series of bridges and [Kootenay/Ktunaxa and Shuswap/ Fisheries Act of 1868 became inducements to the settler in Nlaka’pamux territory] 1887. [Halkomelem (Sto:lo) territory] forms of agriculture. Clearly, ladders that had been built by Secwepemc territories] law in 1877—giving the Crown search of a farm, the stockman

8 9 10 11 exhibition guide: Part 3 into a lake, bearing the same name “The Town of Hope is very J. “The Visit of Princess Louise is 5,290 feet above the sea level, as the fort.” prettily situated on the left bank and the Marquis of Lorne and here the waters begin to flow of Fraser River about 90 miles to British Columbia,” in The in two opposite directions; the Photogr aphy — Canadian Illustrated News, February above New Westminster, and Graphic, December 30, 1882. Wood stream running eastward having 24, 1872 occupies one of the finest sites engraving. to join either the Athabasca or and the for a city to be found west of the Saskatchewan, and the latter [A pioneer of field photography in Cascade range. In the early days finally to be discharged into Lake printing press: British Columbia, Frederick Dally of mining on the Fraser, Hope K. “The Visit of Princess Louise Winnipeg and Hudson’s Bay; (1838–1914) operated a portrait was a very lively business town, and the Marquis of Lorne to while those of the westward slope selec ted studio in Victoria—from 1866 to being considered at the head of British Columbia,” in The Graphic, meet with the Columbia River, 1870. He abandoned his career in steamboat navigation. The prin- January 20, 1883. Wood engraving. the Fraser River, or the Thompson engravings photography after 1870. Born in cipal buildings are a handsome River, whose issue is in the Pacific England, he also died there.] Episcopal Church, a court house Ocean. and post-office, a large warehouse L. “Sketches in British Columbia: of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and Places Visited by the Marquis of Near the Glacier House and E. “Lower Falls of Garnet River several hotels and several retail Lorne and Princess Louise,” in The the Loop Cascade, near Mount Cheadle, B C, stores.” London Illustrated News, March 1872,” in Canadian Illustrated News, 10, 1883. To our right we pass the summit, March 2, 1872. Half-tone engraving — Canadian Illustrated News, May 18, 1872 and two miles on, reach Glacier (after a photograph by Benjamin House, a beautiful Swiss chalet, in Baltzly. September 29, 1871.) M. “The Canadian Pacific front of which are beautiful foun- H. “Miners’ Cabin at The Eureka Railway,” in The London Illustrated tains throwing up icy streams. “The imagination is so closely Silver Mines” in Canadian News, July 24, 1886. Wood Here, apparently a few hundred linked to the perceptive faculties, Illustrated News, June 15, 1872. engraving. yards away to our left, is a monster that the speediest and surest way of Wood engraving (from a photo- glacier with its foot not far above reaching the mind and impress- graph by D. Withrow), coloured the level of the road. With a glass, ing thereon facts and objects, is by hand. N. “The Canadian Pacific we see mighty fissures cracking to lay them vividly before the eye Railway,” in The London Illustrated its surface. It bends over the (the main feeder of the imagina- “The Eureka Silver Mining News, July 31, 1886. Wood mountain like a falling curtain. tion) either in their reality, or in Company is the name of the rich engraving. We are told it is a mile and a half their drama, or even through their silver mine recently discovered wide, nine miles long, and 500 A. North America, 1803. [Drawn single administration in 1866; and village groups, between the first and last two stages of the image painted or engraved.” in the neighborhood of the Town Stony Creek Bridge feet deep. and Engraved for Goldsmith’s the Province of British Columbia villages in the same language proposed route the railroad would of Hope, situated on the Fraser Geography, London.] joined the Confederation of group, among the different run through mountains, lakes, — George Edward Desbarats, Proprietor River. The richness of this mine The bridge over Stony Creek in — The Illustrated London News, Canada in 1871. divisions on the coast and in the morasses, and unpassable thick- and Publisher, Canadian Illustrated and its proximity to the navi- the Selkirk range, is 280 feet high, December 1, 1888 “From a native perspective, white At the beginning of the nine- interior, and even between coastal ets—a country which experienced News. gable waters of the Fraser must, surpassing in elevation any other territorial claims, place names on teenth century, the north-west and interior groups. Some groups, woodsmen and Indians can only eventually, make it one it one of structure of its kind. The line maps, and exploration and survey Coast of British Columbia was one especially those in the transi- traverse at the rate of three miles [Desbarats was the inventor the most valuable mines on the turns southward, down the valley P. “The Canadian Pacific parties were being followed by a of the least well known areas of tional zone between the coast a day. But the word impossible has of a printing process which Pacific Coast. Recent develop- of the Fraser River, and reaches Railway,” in The London Illustrated far more tangible form of colo- the world.] and the interior, acted as middle- been struck out of the modern involved the development of ments in the Cascade range lead to near the town of New News, December 8, 1888. Wood nialism: white workers, settlers men, buying the products of one dictionary.” relief engravings, or half-tones, the conclusion that it is one of the Westminster on the strait that engraving. and their machines using Native neighbouring group and reselling from photographs. The first most richly argentiferous ranges separates Vancouver Island from land for their own purposes. As B. The International Exhibition: them to another. With the coming — Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, of over fifteen thousand half- of mountains in the world.” the American mainland. long as Natives had been able to British Columbia and Prince of Europeans and the accompany- January 1866 tones produced by the Canadian Q. “With Ice-Axe and Camera hunt, fish, and gather in their Edward Island Courts—from a ing influx of new trade goods and Illustrated News appeared in the — Canadian Illustrated News, June 15, At Loop, in the Selkirk Range in the Rocky Mountains (British former territories, the small photograph by the London improved transportation routes, first issue of the magazine, on 1872. Columbia),” in The Graphic, reserves the reserve commis- Stereoscope Company, in Illustrated the exchange of plant products D. “The Great Bluff on the October 30, 1869.] The line crosses the Rocky October 19, 1889. Wood engraving. sioners laid out for them had London News, November, 1862. became even more widespread.” Thompson River,” in Canadian Mountains and enters the high- little meaning; however, the Wood engraving. Illustrated News, February 24, I. “China Bar Bluff” (below lands of British Columbia, a implications of reserves, and the — Nancy J. Turner, Plant Technology of 1872. Wood engraving (from a F. “17 Mile Post, Fraser River, Lytton, near Boston Bar), in mountainous country, with four R. “Sir Donald Station and exclusions they entailed became “Every aboriginal group in the First Peoples In British Columbia. photograph by Frederick Dally, British Columbia (From a Canadian Illustrated News, June successive ranges, of which the Hotel, at the Great Glacier of the ever more apparent as non-Natives province [British Columbia] had 1867–68). Photograph)” in Canadian 29, 1872. Wood engraving (from a Selkirk range and the Cascade Selkirks, British Columbia, on occupied and used the surround- access to a great variety of plant [Aiming to popularize techno- Illustrated News, March 9, 1872. photograph by William Notman range are most remarkable, to be the Canadian Pacific Railway,” in ing land. A logging operation in a materials, but of course, they logical progress (and its products), “The tide of population is con- Wood engraving. & Co., 1871). surrounded by the engineering Harper’s Weekly, 1889 [vol. 23, no. mountain valley previously used valued some more than others. In the second London International stantly flowing westward and even works now practically finished. 1702]. Wood engraving (from a for seasonal hunting marked a areas where plants did not occur Exhibition of Industry and Art in British America will be carried “China Bar Bluff showing the photograph by William Notman huge transformation of land use naturally, people often obtained of 1862 opened one year after by the new Pacific Railway across G. “The Town of Hope,” in London construction at the at that point — The Illustrated London News, July & Son, Montreal). and power. For those experiencing them by trade from neighbour- the tenth anniversary of the the Rocky Mountains into British Illustrated News, May 18, 1872. of the plank road from the coast 31, 1886 it, colonialism was enacted locally, ing groups, either in the form highly successful Crystal Palace Columbia. Then the valley of the Wood engraving (from a photo- to the Cariboo. The road was built on the ground.” of raw materials or as finished Exhibition.] Thompson River will be sought graph by D. Withrow). for the convenience of miners and O. “The Canadian Pacific Railway” S. “Salmon Fishing on the products. Often, too, the people of by the agriculturist as one of the others going into the interior, and in The London Illustrated News, Fraser River,” in Harper’s Weekly, — Cole Harris, The Resettlement of one group would be particularly most fertile spots on the mainland [David Withrow (d. 1905) was for a new country is certainly a December 1, 1888. Wood engraving. September 20, 1890. Wood British Columbia skilled in constructing a certain C. “The British Route for a Pacific for the pursuit of his calling. The active as a photographer in marvel of engineering skill. For engraving. type of product and would be able Railway,” in Harper’s New Monthly Thompson has two branches, a New Westminster (from 1868 nearly its whole length, it follows [The Colonial Period of British to trade it to neighbouring groups Magazine, January, 1866. Wood north and a south, both of which to 1870). In 1869 he operated a the course of the Fraser River, Mount Stephen, East Side; Columbia began with the even when the raw materials were engraving. rise in the Rocky Mountains. They branch studio in Moodyville winding along like a narrow belt Rocky Mountain Range T. “The Canadian Wonderland: establishment of the Colony of just as readily available to the join their waters without exactly (North Vancouver). In addition girding the precipitous heights Across the Rocky Mountains Vancouver Island in 1849 and neighbours…. “This is no mere newspaper mingling them a short distance to making carte-de-visite format that look down on the stream.” The view from the eastern side With A Camera,” in The Graphic the mainland Colony of British The exchange of plant mate- scheme. Men of science and prac- above Fort Kamloops, a Hudson’s portraits, he undertook pioneer is as picturesque as one could (London), June 4, 1892. Half-tone Columbia in 1858. The two rials and other economic products tical knowledge openly advocate Bay Company post, and seven field photography within British — Canadian Illustrated News, June 29, 1872. locate any place in the world. The engraving. colonies were united under a took place at all levels—in family its accomplishment. True, during miles below the fort they expand Columbia.] Railway station called Stephen

12 13 exhibition guide: Part 4 A Continuous tr adition of cedar / wool we aving in the salishan linguistic territories

“What is common to language and 8. Storage basket. Sliammon 17. Storage basket (“snow- [Collected after demolition of a 29. Keith Nahanee (Kwetsimet) narrowest part of the Fraser on the other, then perhaps we will 45. Sulyan. Berry-picking basket art is the fact that neither of them (traded from Pemberton—by way flake” pattern), Thompson/ North Vancouver house, 1980.] Ceremonial blanket. Canyon.) Thompson/Nlaka’ reach more wisdom, let us say, (with ‘butterfly” motif), Lil’wat can be considered as a mere repro- of Mount Currie, Lil’wat Nlaka’pamux, c. 1920. (Swêwkw’elh), Squamish/ pamux. c. 1920. than we think we are capable of.” territory (Mount Currie), duction or imitation of a ready- territory), c. 1900. Skwxwú7mesh, 2009. c. 1940. made, given, outward reality.” 22. Mary Natrall. Berry-picking — Claude Lévi-Strauss, Myth and 18. Carrying basket. Sechelt/ basket, Squamish/Skwxwú7mesh, 33. Berry-picking basket. Meaning (Massey Lectures, Canadian — Ernst Cassirer, Language and Art 1 9. Child’s berry-picking basket. Shashishalem, c. 1945. c. 1910. 30. Keith Nahanee (Kwetsimet). Thompson/Nlaka’pamux, Broadcasting Corporation, 1977) 46. Tumpline. Lil’wat territory (Columbia University Seminar, 1942) Sechelt/Shashishalem, c. 1920. Ceremonial blanket c. 1920. (Mount Currie), c. 1930. (Swêwkw’elh), Squamish/ 19. Melvin Williams (Wala7kitá). 23. Berry-picking basket. Skwxwú7mesh, 2009. 39. Marguerita Jim. Rectangular 1. Storage basket. Lil’wat (Mount 10. Berry-picking basket. Gathering-basket, Lil’wat (Mount Squamish/Skwxwú7mesh, c. 1910. 34. Berry-picking basket. storage basket, Lil’wat territory 47. Cradle. Lil’wat territory Currie). c. 1920. Thompson/Nlaka’pamux, c. 1920. Currie), 2000. “Every form has not only a static Stl’atl’imx (Lillooet), c. 1920. (Mount Currie), c. 1910. (Mount Currie), 1973. being; it has a dynamic force and ‘To speak of rules and to speak 24. Margaret Baker (P’elawk’wia). a dynamic life of its own. Light, 2. Berry-picking basket (with 11. Berry-picking basket (with of meaning is to speak of the Berry-picking basket, Squamish/ colour, mass, weight are not expe- 35. Berry-picking basket (with 40. Lucy Jim. Rectangular storage 48. Melvin Williams (Wala7kitá). buckskin straps). Nlaka’pamux/ buckskin ties). Lil’wat (Mount same thing; and if we look at all Skwxwú7mesh, c. 1910. rienced in the same way in a work “butterfly” pattern). Lil’wat basket, Lil’wat territory (Mount Ceremonial hat (cedar bark), Thompson (Chase/Lytton), Currie), c. 1920. the intellectual undertakings of of art as in our common experi- (Mount Currie), c. 1900. Currie), c. 1920. Lil’wat territory (Mount Currie), 1880–1900. mankind, as far as they have been ence. In the latter case we look at 2009. recorded all over the world, the 25. Margaret Baker (P’elawk’wia) them as given sense-data out of 12. Storage basket. Thompson/ common denominator is always Trout-fishing basket, Squamish/ which we build up by processes 36. Berry-picking basket (with 41. Katherine Pascal. Girl’s 3. Storage basket. Lil’wat (Mount Nlaka’pamux (Lytton), c. 1920. to introduce some kind of order. Skwxwú7mesh, c. 1920. of logical thought or empirical tumpline). Lil’wat (Mount Currie), “coming of age” basket, Lil’wat 49. Melvin Williams (Wala7kitá). Currie), c. 1900. If this represents a basic need for inferences our concept of a physi- c. 1910. territory (Mount Currie), c. 1910. Storage basket with lid, Lil’wat order in the human mind, and cal universe, of an external world. territory (Mount Currie), 2009. 13. Storage basket with lid. since, after all, the human mind is 26. Cradle (P’ut’sus). Squamish/ But in art not only is the horizon 4. Storage basket (for river/lake Squamish/Skwxwú7mesh, c. 1940. only part of the universe, the need Skwxwú7mesh) c. 1920. [Collected of our sense-experience enlarged, 37. Burden basket. Thompson/ 42. Placida Dan. Girl’s “coming canoe). Lil’wat (Mount Currie), probably exists because there is after demolition of a North but our perspective, our prospect Nlaka’pamux (Lytton), c. 1920. of age” basket. Lil’wat territory c. 1920. some order in the universe and the Vancouver house, 1980.] of reality, is changed.” (Mount Currie), c. 1910. 14. Berry-picking basket universe is not a chaos.” (“lighting” pattern). Thompson/ — Ernst Cassirer, Language and Art 1 38. Lidded storage basket. 5. Bait basket. Lil’wat (Port Nlaka’pamux, c. 1900. — Claude Lévi-Strauss, Myth and 27. Keith Nahanee (Kwetsimet) (Columbia University Seminar, 1942) Thompson/Nlaka’pamux (Lytton). 43. Berry-picking basket (with Douglas—at the head of Harrison Meaning (Massey Lectures, Canadian Ceremonial blanket c. 1920. contemporary tumpline). Lil’wat Lake), c. 1900–1920. Broadcasting Corporation, 1977) (Swéwkw’elh), Squamish/ territory (Mount Currie), c. 1870. 15. Storage basket. Lil’wat (Mount Skwxwú7mesh, 2009. 31. Berry-picking basket (with “If we are led to believe that Currie), c. 1930. tumpline). Lil’wat (Mount Currie). what takes place in our mind is 6. Lidded storage basket. Lil’wat 20. Agatha Moody. Storage basket, c. 1910. something not substantially or 44. Placida Dan. Berry-picking (Mount Currie), c. 1920. Squamish/Skwxwú7mesh, c. 1910. 28. Keith Nahanee (Kwetsimet). fundamentally different from the basket (with etskin—“pit house”— 16. Lidded storage basket. Ceremonial blanket basic phenomenon of life itself… motif), Lil’wat territory (Mount Halkomelem (Stolo: Upper Fraser (Swêwkw’elh), Squamish/ 32. Burden basket (with light and between mankind on the one Currie), c. 1950. 7. Storage basket. Lil’wat (Mount River), c. 1920. 21. Berry-picking basket. Skwxwú7mesh, 2009. dark imbrication motif repre- hand and all other living beings— Currie), c. 1900–1920. Squamish/Skwxwú7mesh, c. 1900. senting Hell’s Gate—the deepest/ not only animals, but also plants—

14 15 Conjunctions

1513–1811 England by way of the mythical been ceded to or purchased by us… 1792 George Vancouver (1757– the Nechaco River) to Musqueam, 1821 The Hudson’s Bay Company 1851 James Douglas was made 1858 The Colony of British Strait of Anian—which suppos- are reserved to the…Indians.” 1798) and William Broughton—in where, only a few miles from and the North West Company second Governor of Vancouver Columbia was created on the edly connected the Pacific with H.M.S. Discovery and H.M.S. the Pacific Ocean, he was forced were united—and a monopoly of Island (a position held until 1863). mainland. James Douglas was 1513 September 29: Spanish the Atlantic (the Northwest 1778 British navigator, car- Chatham—surveyed and explored to retreat from hostile Native the fur trade was established (with named Governor and was sworn explorer Vasco Nunes de Balboa Passage). Having reached 48˚ N, tographer and explorer James the coasts of the mainland of warriors. exclusive license to trade with 1857 In the Legislature of Upper in at Fort Langley on November (c. 1475–1517), traveling from the he was forced to turn southward— Cook (1728–1779), on his third British Columbia (continu- aboriginal inhabitants within Canada, Attorney General 19th. (The rights to govern had east coast of Panama, arrived on putting into a bay at the 38th voyage in the Pacific, landed at ing until 1794). Vancouver and 1811 Fur trader, explorer and vast, sparsely populated territo- John A. Macdonald successfully been acquired from the Hudson’s the shore of the Pacific—the first parallel, where he remained for Nootka (Vancouver Island) in Bodega Quadra (1743–1794) met to geographer David Thompson ries extending from Labrador to introduced his Act to Encourage Bay Company.) non-native to do so—and took five weeks. The first Englishman March—naming the location formally settle the restoration of (1770–1857), ascended the Oregon, and from the Red River the Gradual Civilization of Indian possession of the “Great South Sea to land on the Pacific shore of King George’s Sound. The first properties seized by the Spanish Columbia River to its source, to the Yukon. Tribes in This Province, and to Humphrey Lloyd Hime (1833– from the Pole Arctic to the Pole North America, he took posses- Englishman to set foot on what is in 1789. before turning and descending to Amend the Laws Relating to Indians. 1903) accompanied Henry Youle Antarctic,” in the name of the sion for Queen Elizabeth, naming now British Columbia, he was able its mouth at Fort Astoria—thus 1827 Fort Langley (the first Aimed at assimilating the aborig- Hind (1823–1908) as the official Spanish monarch. the area New Albion. to trade with native inhabitants 1793 Alexander Mackenzie becoming the first non-native to Hudsons’s Bay trading post on inal population, the Act awarded photographer to the govern- and survey the coastline. Sailing (1764–1820), fur-trader and travel its full length. the mainland of lower British 50 acres (200,000 square metres) ment sponsored Assiniboine 1523 October 21: Ferdinand 1592 Working for the Spanish as far north as 70˚, he determined explorer in the service of the Columbia) was built on the of land to any indigenous male and Saskatchewan Exploring Magellan (c. 1480–1521), the first King, the Juan de Fuca (Ioannis that there was no passage through North West Company, with southeast side of the Fraser River. deemed “sufficiently advanced in Expedition—a topographical explorer to undertake a voyage Foksas), made his second voyage the continent—thus eliminating Alexander Mackay (d. 1811), six 1812–1862 Contact and trade (primarily with the elementary branches of educa- and geological endeavour aimed around the globe, discovered the to the Pacific Northwest, search- the myth of the Strait of Anian. voyageurs and two native helpers, the northern and north-central tion.” Acceptance of these terms at procuring information from eastern entrance of the passage ing for the fabled Straits of made the first crossing of the Coast Salish) began accelerating would automatically “enfran- the region “lying to the west of that bears his name. In November, Anian. The Strait of Juan de Fuca 1779 The North West Company continent north of Mexico. 1812 On July 18, the United States significantly. chise” the recipient—removing Lake Winnipeg and Red River.” the fleet rounded the Cabo (principle outlet of Georgia Strait was formed—with the aim of declared war on Great Britain. any aboriginal affiliation or treaty Hime’s engagement marked the Deseao, the “desired” western and Puget Sound) was named in creating competition for the 1803 John R. Jewitt (1783–1821) 1846 On June 15th, the United rights. In the language of the Act first official use of field photog- terminus of the strait, and entered 1787 by English Captain Charles Hudson’s Bay Company in the fur armourer on the Ship Boston, 1814 The Treaty of Ghent ended States and Great Britain signed (which was to be reinforced by the raphy in Canada. (It had been the “Great South Sea”—sighted William Barkley. trade. Having no royal charter and Captain John Salter reached the war of 1812. the Oregon Treaty—defining a creation of residential schools) a traditional expedition practice by Balboa, and named Pacific by granting fur-trading rights, the Nootka on March 12. The ship’s 49th parallel boundary extending government policy to have First to employ individuals with Magellan. 1670 King Charles II of England NWC traders ventured deeper into part was seized ten days later 1818 October 20: The London from the Rockies “to the middle Peoples removed from their “evil some competence in producing granted a charter to “The the North American continent by Chief Maquinna—with only Convention, signed by Britain and of the channel which separates the surroundings” would guarantee topographical drawings.) He had 1523 Hernando Cortes (1485–1547), Governor and Company of than their HBC rivals. Jewitt and one crewman, John the United States, provisionally continent from Vancouver’s Island that “the savage child would be been instructed to document “all conqueror of Mexico, journeyed Adventurers of England trading Thompson, escaping massacre. established the 49th parallel as the and thence southerly through the remade into a civilized adult,” objects of interest susceptible of to the Pacific side of the country, into Hudson’s Bay.” The first 1789 Estévan Martinez, Gonzalo Held captive until July, 1805, they boundary between American and middle of said channel, and of and, ultimately, assimilated into photographic delineation.” establishing a naval base at governor of the company was Lopez de Haro and José Maria were rescued by Captain Samuel British territories—from Lake of the Fuca’s Straits to the Pacific Ocean.” the larger, colonial population. Tehuantepac in Oajaco (from where Prince Rupert; the actual founders Narvaez arrived from Mexico on Hill of the brig Lydia. Woods to the Rocky Mountains. The Fraser River became the scene he intended to build ships for were two Canadians, Pierre orders from Spain to establish 1849 By royal proclamation (in John Palliser (1817–1887) was sent out of a major historic gold rush. exploration and the establishment Esprit Radisson (c. 1640–1710) and sovereignty over the entire coast of 1805–1808 Simon Fraser (1776– 1818 November 24: A joint com- January) the colony of Vancouver by the Imperial Government to lead of settlements further to the north). Médard Chourart des Groseillers British Columbia. Narvaez, sailing 1862), a partner in the North West mission (provided for by the 1814 Island was founded—its administra- an exploring and scientific expedi- 1859 New Westminster (the (1618–1696?). in and around what is now English Company, built the first trading Treaty of Ghent) decided that tion being granted to the Hudson’s tion to the Canadian Prairies and the names Queensborough and 1579 Francis Drake (c. 1540– Bay, was the first European to see a posts in what is now the interior territory west of the Rockies was to Bay Company for a period of ten Rockies. He had been asked to report Queenborough had been consid- 1595/6), returning from his voyage 1763 A British Royal portion of the terrain which became of British Columbia. In 1808 be jointly occupied for ten years by years. In July, Richard Blanchard on the feasibility of building a trans- ered and rejected) was founded as around the world (commenced Proclamation declared that “any Stanley Park: he named it Ponta de Fraser explored the Fraser River Britain and the United States. (1817–1894) was appointed first Canada railway—and this research the capital of the new Colony of in 1577) attempted to return to lands whatever, which, not having la Bodega (now Ferguson Point). from Fort George (at the mouth of Governor of Vancouver Island. occupied him until 1861. British Columbia.

16 17 1860 July 16: New Westminster Island to succeed Sir James a separate legal category based on [The Yellowhead Pass route was was incorporated as a city. Douglas (who had been Governor race. Indian agents became inter- abandoned in favour of a Rogers of both British Columbia and mediaries between First Peoples Pass line through the Rockies and Father Leon Fouquet, a priest Vancouver Island). and the Government of Canada. the Selkirk Mountains, south of of the French Roman Catholic [The act was revised in 1951.] Kicking Horse Pass.] The govern- Oblates of Mary Immaculate, 1865 The Western Union ment granted the enterprise a arrived in New Westminster— telegraph line reached New 1877 Treaty No. 7, the last major tract of land measuring 100,00 receiving instructions to find a Westminster; the first message post-Confederation-era treaty, was square kilometers, in addition to a site (somewhere along the Fraser) was received on April 18. signed—by Crowfoot, Chief of the twenty-year monopoly on railway for a mission and boarding Blackfoot and Red Crow, Chief of construction on all lands south of school for aboriginal students. 1866 Vancouver Island was the Blood—at Blackfoot Crossing the C.P.R. A final agreement was St. Mary’s Mission School for annexed to British Columbia, and (about 10 km east of Calgary). signed on 20 November. Native Boys—the first of its kind on 17 November the two colonies in British Columbia—opened in were proclaimed a unity. With this legal agreement, all 1881 Major Albert Rogers, “The November. [In November 1863, lands between the Rockies and the Railway Pathfinder”—a noted two sisters of the Order of St 1867 July 1: The British North Cypress Hills were ceded to the location finding engineer—was Ann opened a girls’ convent at America Act created the new federal government—in advance engaged by the C.P.R to supervise St Mary’s Mission School. Forced Dominion of Canada. The Act of construction of the C.P.R. Line its route explorations through the to move, in 1882, because of the brought together a cultural to British Columbia. mountain ranges west of Banff. In planned C.P.R. route (which conglomerate comprising Upper April he sent survey parties from would cut through the school and Lower Canada (henceforth 1878 John A. Macdonald was Fort Calgary to explore passes property), the Oblates relocated known as and Québec), re-elected as Prime Minister— through the Rocky Mountains; to a new site, half a mile north , and New Brunswick. promising to complete the and on 21 July he personally found of the river, where residences John A. Macdonald was sworn in Canadian Pacific Railway to a suitable pass through the more would house fifty boys and fifty as the first Prime Minister—with British Columbia. westerly Selkirk Mountains. girls. The last boarding school for a promise to introduce a railway Native children to have operated system connecting old Canada Canadian Governor General, the in British Columbia, St Mary’s with the Atlantic provinces. 1879–1899 Marquess of Lorne, attended a School functioned until its final pow wow at Blackfoot Crossing, class graduated in 1959.] Alaska was ceded to the United Alberta, where Chief Crowfoot States by Russia. 1879 February 8: In a lecture pleaded for rations to save and The Cariboo gold rush began, con- delivered at the Canadian Institute support his starving people. Food, tributing more to the development 1868 Victoria became the capital in Toronto, engineer Sandford which the federal government of New Westminster and Victoria of British Columbia. Flemming proposed to divide had agreed to supply, was being (and to the stability and wealth of the world into twenty-four equal improperly distributed. the two colonies) than all other 1869 November 19: under the The field costs and transportation Peoples to sign treaties with the time zones—with a standard time Indian Residential Schools. The William Smithe for an exstensive known factors. terms of a deed of surrender, the expenses were shared by the GSC government of Canada. within each zone. [On 18 November 1882 William Cornelius Van Roman Catholic, Anglican, allocation of land on False Creek Hudson’s Bay Company gave up its and the Railway Survey. 1884, his idea was adopted by Horne was appointed General Presbyterian and United Churches (an extension of English Bay)— 1862 Construction of the Cariboo right of government. John A. Macdonald was forced to twenty-five countries voting at Manager of the C.P.R. provided staff and administration enabling him to build C.P.R. wagon road began. Completed Civil engineer Sanford Fleming resign as Prime Minister—due to the International Prime Meridian to the schools. yards, shops, and a roundhouse. in 1865, this Royal Engineers’ 1871 July 20: British Columbia was appointed engineer-in-chief, evidence that had set in motion Conference in Washington, D.C. The C.P.R. signed a contract with feat (65 km long and 5.5 m wide) entered Confederation with the in charge of the Canadian Pacific the “Pacific Scandal.” [Macdonald’s Standard time went into effect on Langdon, Shepard & Company of Franz Boas (1858–1942) arrived March 26: At Duck Lake (35 miles connected the towns of Yale and Dominion of Canada. Railroad Survey (to be completed government had accepted January 1, 1885.] Minnesota for construction of 805 in Saint John, New Brunswick, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan), Barkerville, British Columbia. in 1878). campaign funds from Hugh kilometers of main line across the after a year-long expedition Louis Riel launched the North- The Geological Survey of Canada Allan, C.P.R. Company President, A “Report on Industrial Schools prairies. studying the Inuit of Cumberland West Rebellion (in a region A smallpox epidemic struck First sent an expedition to British November 11: The last British in return for the C.P.R. contract of for Indians and Half-Breeds”, com- Sound and Baffin Island. In 1895, then known as the Northwest Nation inhabitants, killing large Columbia, with the aim of troops left Quebec City—ending the previous year. The government missioned by Prime Minister Sir 1883 Acting under pressure from his study of myths and legends Territories). Operating in associa- numbers of people in BC. determining the best route for the the British occupation of Canada, had provided the railway company John A. Macdonald, was submit- newly arriving missionaries in from the “North Pacific Coast tion with Canada’s minister of Pacific Railway (as promised to except for a small garrison at with a subsidy of 30 million ted to Ottawa. Now known as the British Columbia, the federal gov- of America” was published in militia, C.P.R. executive Cornelius At the London International British Columbia when it joined Halifax. dollars and 20,234,000 hectares “Davin Report”, it led, ultimately, ernment outlawed the potlatch—a Berlin. His “Preliminary Notes on Van Horne moved troops from Exhibition, William Notman, of the Canadian Confederation). of land. Allan had secured the to public funding for the residen- ceremony that included feasting the Indians of British Columbia” Montreal to Fort Qu’Appelle, west Montreal, was awarded a medal The Geological Survey was 1872 October 15: The Canadian C.P.R.’s 1873 charter by giving tial school system in Canada. and gift-giving within a process were published in the Report of of Winnipeg. [In total more than “for excellence in an extensive ordered to examine some of the Pacific Railway Company was $360,000 in campaign funds for of continuously redistributed the British Association for the 3,000 men travelled to the prairies series of photographs.” routes proposed for the British formed. (Its federal charter to the 1873 national election which 1880 Andrew Onderdonk (c. wealth. [The legislation was Advancement of Science (1889). by way of the railway] Columbia interior by Sandford build a transcontinental line was had returned Macdonald and his 1849–1905), a New York contrac- revoked in 1951.] Fleming’s survey for the C.P.R. received on February 5, 1873.) Conservatives to office.] tor, began construction of the CPR Canadian Parliament passed the May 15: Louis Riel surrendered 1863–1878 (in addition to determining local line in British Columbia—from Travelling from Montreal, Sir Indian Advancement Act, encour- to Major-General Frederick geological features and the extent 1873 An Act of Parliament— On 5 November, the leader of the Port Moody to Savonna’s Ferry, William Van Horne viewed aging “democratic” election of Middleton. Sentenced, for treason, of minerals to be found in their the Administration of Justice opposition, Alexander Mackenzie, Kamloops Lake. Six thousand Canadian Pacific Railway ter- chiefs by Indian bands—in line on September 18, he was hanged 1863 The first survey of Burrard vicinity). , Secretary Act—created the North West was asked to form a new Chinese labourers worked the line. ritories as far west as Holt City with municipal governments (in Regina, Saskatchewan) on Inlet documented the future of the Provinces, authorized Mounted Police. Formation of government. (now Lake Louise). At his request, throughout the country. November 16. Stanley Park region as “Coal Alfred Selwyn, Director of the the force (later named the Royal October 21: The federal govern- railway surveyors were sent to Peninsula”—adjacent to Coal GSC and the leader of the British Canadian Mounted Police) was 1876 David Laird, Superintendent ment signed a contract with formally designate the Lake Louise 1885 January 24: A commercial November 7: The last spike of Harbour. Columbia explorations, to engage based primarily on safeguarding General of Indian Affairs, drafted the Canadian Pacific Railway region as a wilderness reserve. telegraph system (operated by the the Canadian Pacific Railway two photographers to accompany the proposed transcontinental the Indian Act, which was passed Company (a new syndicate, unre- Montreal-based Canadian Pacific through-line to the Pacific was 1864 Frederick Seymour the expedition. It was officially railway. By establishing law into law by the federal govern- lated to ) intending 1884 William Cornelius Van Railway Company) was completed driven at Craigellachie (a site on (1820–1869) was appointed first agreed that the Montreal firm of and order throughout aborigi- ment. Constructed and proclaimed completion of the approximately Horne was advanced to the from the Atlantic to the Pacific. the Eagle river, near , separate Governor of the Colony William Notman would supply nal territories, the force (which without Native participation, the 3,115 kilometers of the railway position of C.P.R. Vice-President. British Columbia). of British Columbia. Arthur the photographic equipment and was fashioned after the Royal Indian Act consolidated all earlier line from Lake Nippising via February 25, 1885: Cornelius Van Edward Kennedy (1810–1883) was pay two men—Benjamin Baltzly Irish Constabulary) would also laws regarding aboriginal peoples the Yellows Head Pass to Port Legislation (passed in Ottawa) Horne secured formal agreement November 25: Banff National appointed Governor of Vancouver and his assistant, John Hammond. be utilized in encouraging First and placed First Nation members in Moody on the Burrard Inlet. created a system of state-funded with British Columbia Premier Hot Springs Reserve, at the foot

18 19 Illustrations in this Guide

p.1 Keith Nahanee. Ceremonial Blanket, 2004, (detail). Photo courtesy: Meirion Cynog Evans

p.4 Benjamin Baltzly. Murchison’s Rapids, North Thompson River, BC, 1871 © McCord Museum. I-70025.1

p.6 A. B. Thom. Interior of snow shed, Summit of Selkirk Mountains, BC, c. 1887 © McCord Museum. MP-1993.6.6.26

p.10–11 Scow Wash Bridge, three miles above Keefers Station, BC, c. 1885 Attributed to Charles MacMunn © McCord Museum MP-0000.600.45

p.12 “Sir Donald Station and Hotel, at the Great Glacier of the Selkirks, British Columbia, on the Canadian Pacific Railway,” in Harper’s Weekly, 1889 [vol. 23, no. 702]. Wood engraving (from a photograph by William Notman & Son, Montreal).

p.15 Berry-picking basket (with buckskin straps). Nlaka’pamux/ Thompson (Chase/Lytton), 1880– 1900. Photo: Meirion Cynog Evans

p.18 William MacFarlane Notman. Stony Creek Bridge, Glacier Park, BC, 1897 © McCord Museum. V3112 of Sulphur Mountain, in the the memory of explorer and navi- 1887 May 23: The first train from in the transcontinental railway) Rocky Mountains—Canada’s gator George Vancouver, had been Montreal arrived in Vancouver. accorded the civic honour to p.19 oldest and the world’s third largest chosen by C.P.R. Vice-President It carried a banner that stated: Canada’s Governor General of William MacFarlane Notman. national park—was established by William Van Horne—for the MONTREAL GREETS THE Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston.] Scuzzie Falls near North Bend, BC, the federal government. (Three Company’s western terminus.] TERMINAL CITY. 1887 © McCord Museum. V1757 C.P.R. Workers had chanced upon 1899 Cornelius Van Horne resigned the site in 1883.) The park’s name June 23: Conducting their first June 8: The Privy Council of the as C.P.R. President; he was p.20 was changed to Rocky Mountain item of business after the fire, Van- Dominion of Canada approved replaced by Thomas Shaughnessy William McFarlane Notman. Cisco Park in 1887—and renamed Banff couver’s Mayor and Aldermen sent Vancouver’s petition to reserve (1853–1923), who served until 1918. bridge on the C.P.R., BC, 1887 National Park in 1911. a petition to Ottawa—requesting federally-owned land for a City © McCord Museum. V-1748 the Dominion Government to Park. The C.P.R. sponsored Canada’s first C.P.R.’s first land commissioner, grant “the whole of that part of the promotional film—an advertising Lauchlan Hamilton (1852–1941), Coal Harbour Peninsula known 1888 William Cornelius Van Horne production intended to encourage All photographs courtesy the commenced his survey for the as the Government Reserve…for advanced from Vice-President to immigration. McCord Museum. laying out of a street system in a Public Park.” Without waiting President of the Canadian Pacific Vancouver [In January 1885, for a reply from Ottawa, Lauchlan Railway Company. All engravings in the section called C.P.R.Vice-President William Hamilton (functioning as a city Photography and the Printing Cornelius Van Horne had written alderman, in addition to his C.P.R. The C.P.R. Company’s Vancouver Press: Selected Engravings. Private to the railway land commissioner, land commissioner’s role), person- Hotel opened on May 15. Collection. outlining his intention to reserve ally conducted a survey of the first land (for the Company’s use) in path around the park. On 27 September, Stanley Park, All baskets and blankets: Private the vicinity of present-day Stanley was officially opened. [Vancou- Collection except baskets numbered Park.] The first transcontinental train ver’s mayor, , 35 through 42, Courtesy the New from Montreal departed on June had asked Montreal-based Westminster Museum and Archive. 1886 April 6: Vancouver was 28—arriving at Port Moody on C.P.R.director, Sir Donald Smith, incorporated as a city. It was July 4. later Lord Strathcona, to select a almost entirely destroyed by fire name for the park. Smith (who in on 13 June. [Its name, honouring 1885 had driven the ‘last spike”

20 Walter Phillips Gallery October 17 to December 13, 2009

Walter Phillips Gallery The Banff Centre, 107 Tunnel Mountain Drive, PO Box 1020, Station 14, Banff, AB T1L 1H5 403 762 6281 www.banffcentre.ca/wpg/

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Presentation House Gallery January 16 to March 6, 2010

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