THE Museum of Anthropology at UBC is the last stop for ‘Treasures of Tsimshian.’

The exhibition’s cross-country tour began in 2006 in Tsimshian territory – where these cultural pieces were created, and where they had not been seen for more than 100 years.

In 1862, 50 Tsimshian people travelled to a new village. They were Christian followers of an Anglican missionary, William Duncan, who thought it was essential for these new believers to reject their Tsimshian ways, in order to follow Christ. In their new village, the natives were isolated from their  culture.

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One of his customers, the Scottish clergyman Robert J. Dundas, went to the Tsimshian village in 1863, and purchased what he called “Indian curiosities.” The collection remained in his family for 143 years, before being sold at auction in 2006.

The exhibit runs till June.
Contact: moa.ubc.ca.

February 2008