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Our institution is committed to the development of new modes of collaboration, engagement, and partnership with Indigenous peoples for the care and stewardship of past and future heritage collections.

Terms of use
The Bill Reid Centre's digital image archive is the digital version of a research collection first assembled by Dr. George MacDonald and his wife Joanne MacDonald over their long careers in Canadian museology, archaeology, and anthropology. The archive represents the MacDonalds' deep respect for the cultures of the Northwest Coast, their connections to numerous communities along the coast, as well as their relationships with museums, archives, friends and colleagues. These images are made available here for research and educational purposes. Other uses may require permission; users are responsible for contacting copyright holders to obtain such permission.

George and Joanne MacDonald Northwest Coast Image Archive

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: Mortuary Pole and Tree in Old Kasaan; Mortuary Pole interrupted by a tree. The figure depicts either a bear or beaver..

: Sonnihat Pole Replica at New Kasaan; Sonnihat's pole

: Beaver Memorial Pole at Old Kasaan; Memorial Pole at Old Kasaan. The figure has a Beaver at the base holding a stick, with a smaller bear or beaver figure above the tail. Above the figures are sgil or Potlatch Rings.

: Beaver Memorial Pole at Old Kasaan; The top of a Memorial pole, the figure is a bird depiction. Memorial Pole at Old Kasaan. The figure has a Beaver at the base holding a stick, with a smaller bear or beaver figure above the tail. Above the figures are sgil or Potlatch Rings.

: Row of Mortuary Posts at Old Kasaan; Early row of Mortuary poles

: Sonnihat Carved House Posts; Elaborate carved house posts inside chief ""Sonnihat""'s house. Chief ""Sonnihat"" belonged to an eagle lineage, and the whale was part of his crest figures, which the two corner posts represent. The pole in the center was known as ""Head House Totem""

: Human Memorial Pole at Old Kasaan; Memorial pole depicting a human figure

: Details of Chief Skowl's Pole; Details of Skowl's pole. This pole was about 50 ft high, and stood at chief Skowl's Rib House. The pole pole was restored in New Kasaan. The figures are Raven with a moon in its beak; Raven holding his beak downwards and a Bear with cubs in its mouth.

: Stone Ribs Pole; Stone Ribs inside of a sea lion skin. Stone Ribs is known as the legendary strong man. This pole depicts him encased in the body of a sea lion, whose upthrust head and nose are at the the top of the pole. At the base is a bear figure.

: Details of Chief Skowl's Pole; Details of Skowl's pole. This pole was about 50 ft high, and stood at chief Skowl's Rib House. The pole pole was restored in New Kasaan. The figures are Raven with a moon in its beak; Raven holding his beak downwards and a Bear with cubs in its mouth.

: Chief Skowl's pole; Chief Skowl's pole. This pole was about 50 ft high, and stood at chief Skowl's Rib House. The pole pole was restored in New Kasaan. The figures are Raven with a moon in its beak; Raven holding his beak downwards and a Bear with cubs in its mouth.

: Human Memorial Pole at Old Kasaan; Memorial pole depicting a human figure

: Remaining monument in Old Kasaan; Remains of a monument in the village of Old Kasaan

: Row of Mortuary Posts at Old Kasaan; Early row of Memorial poles on the west side of the village. Right: House Frontal pole at Old Kasaan. The pole depicts an eagle holding a salmon, a frog holding a bentwood box and a beaver with a small beaver. At the base are depictions of two humans.

: Human Memorial Pole at Old Kasaan; Memorial pole depicting a human figure

: East Pole at New Kasaan; Ha'u (east) Pole. It was recounted that the carver of this pole was a decedent of a Tlingit village of Kake. The pole belonged to Sonnihat's grandfather who's name was ""east."" The figures represented on the pole starting from the top are �father of us all,� Raven, killer whale, and Raven with a human figure on front, with Root on the bottom.

: Sonnihat Elaborate House Post; Elaborate carved house post inside chief ""Sonnihat""'s house. This pole was known as ""Head House Totem""

: Row of Mortuary Posts at Old Kasaan; Memorial Poles at Old Kasaan

: Details of Chief Skowl's Pole; Details of Skowl's pole. This pole was about 50 ft high, and stood at chief Skowl's Rib House. The pole pole was restored in New Kasaan. The figures are Raven with a moon in its beak; Raven holding his beak downwards and a Bear with cubs in its mouth.

: Human Memorial Pole at Old Kasaan; Memorial pole depicting a human figure

: Remaining monument in Old Kasaan; Remains of a monument in the village of Old Kasaan

: Details of Chief Skowl's Pole; Details of Skowl's pole. This pole was about 50 ft high, and stood at chief Skowl's Rib House. The pole pole was restored in New Kasaan. The figures are Raven with a moon in its beak; Raven holding his beak downwards and a Bear with cubs in its mouth.

: Row of Mortuary Posts at Old Kasaan; Early row of Memorial poles on the west side of the village.

: Row of Mortuary Posts at Old Kasaan; Early row of Memorial poles on the west side of the village.

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George and Joanne MacDonald Northwest Coast Image Archive

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