George and Joanne MacDonald Northwest Coast Image Archive

The Bill Reid Centre's George and Joanne MacDonald Image Archive contains images of Northwest Coast First Peoples, their villages, and their visual and material belongings. Many of the images collected by the MacDonalds are not unique, and can be found in museums and archives around the world. Throughout his career, Dr. MacDonald sought to bring these important resources together under one roof with the intent of creating access for Northwest Coast First Nations, and in particular artists, whose passion for historic imagery and visual documentation of their cultural belongings he witnessed first-hand. The archive is a reflection of the MacDonalds' research interests, their careers in archaeology and anthropology, their many relationships in the field, and their deep respect and admiration of the diverse nations of the Northwest Coast.

Contributed by The Bill Reid Centre, Simon Fraser University.

Copyright and Terms of use

See individual items for detailed Copyright and Terms of use information. 

 

Search within Collection

Displaying 1396 - 1410 of 5804

Detail of Unique Grave

Klukwan093-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1895 to 1905
Name(s): Nowell, F. H.
Description: A unique grave house with snout and teeth attached to it.

Detail of Warrior in Armour

Ksan%20Historical%20Village_052-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1979
Description: The 'Ksan Performance group re-enacting the story of the warrior chief Nehl'xt or 'Nekt at 'Ksan Historical Village. The story takes place at 'Battle Hill© near Gitwangak village. 'Nekt was an aggressive warrior and led many successful raids against neighbouring tribes. He is remembered and celebrated by the Gitxsan people as a powerful and great leader.

Detail of Warrior's Armour

Ksan%20Historical%20Village_027-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1979
Description: The 'Ksan Performance group re-enacting the story of the warrior chief Nehl'xt or 'Nekt at 'Ksan Historical Village. The story takes place at 'Battle Hill© near Gitwangak village. 'Nekt was an aggressive warrior and led many successful raids against neighbouring tribes. He is remembered and celebrated by the Gitxsan people as a powerful and great leader.

Detail of Warrior's Helmet and Armour

Ksan%20Historical%20Village_054-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1979
Description: The 'Ksan Performance group re-enacting the story of the warrior chief Nehl'xt or 'Nekt at 'Ksan Historical Village. The story takes place at 'Battle Hill© near Gitwangak village. 'Nekt was an aggressive warrior and led many successful raids against neighbouring tribes. He is remembered and celebrated by the Gitxsan people as a powerful and great leader.

Detail on Haida Pole

haida_artist-027-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1966
Name(s): Ochs, Peter
Description: Detail of hawk figure on the pole by Bill Reid at UBC village.

Detail shot of shaman staff

shamanism%20320-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Description: Shaman's staff with carved human figure.

Detail Two-Finned Killer Whale Mortuary

Kuuna29-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1967
Name(s): De Menil, Adelaide
Description: This details the face of the figure from the top of the pole who is holding on to the tail of the killer whale.

Detail: All-Frogs

Gitanyow27-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1966 to 1967
Name(s): De Menil, Adelaide
Description: This is a detail of the eye of 'Neegyamks from Chief Gwinuu's pole. In her eye is a small frog with the face of a human.

Detail: Base

SGangGwaay14-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1947
Name(s): Barbeau, Marius, 1883-1969
Description: The base of the beaver mortuary. This mortuary displayed a carved beaver with four potlatch rings on its head and a painted plaque. Detailed here is the base of the post, which has five small, seated human figures below the paws of the beaver. Between the paws is a small face on the beavers tail.

Detail: Base

SGangGwaay67-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1968
Name(s): De Menil, Adelaide
Description: Detail of the unusual head of a figure that was on the base of a grizzly bear mortuary. The rest of the pole was carved with a large grizzly bear with a cub between its legs and small human figures in its ears.

Detail: Bear Frontal Pole

Hiellan02-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1919
Name(s): Smith, Harlan Ingersoll, 1872-1939
Description: Detail of the base bear figure from the House for a Large Crowd of People frontal pole. The bear figure appears to have a fish in its mouth, and a row of watchmen figures and frogs above its head.

Detail: Bear Frontal Pole

Hiellan03-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1919
Name(s): Smith, Harlan Ingersoll, 1872-1939
Description: Detail of the top bear figure from the House for a Large Crowd of People frontal pole. This figure is holding a small frog in its paws and has frogs in each ear.

Detail: Bear Frontal Pole

Hiellan05-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1919
Name(s): Smith, Harlan Ingersoll, 1872-1939
Description: Detail of the centre figures from the House for a Large Crowd of People frontal pole. In between the two large bear figures is a row of watchmen figures and frogs above its head.

Detail: Beaver

Kiusta25-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1968
Name(s): De Menil, Adelaide
Description: A detail of a beaver with a frog in its mouth from the right post in the triple mortuary.

Detail: Beaver

Kiusta27-Thumbnail Image.jpg
Date: 1968
Name(s): De Menil, Adelaide
Description: A detailed profile of a beaver with a frog in its mouth from the right post in the triple mortuary.