Photograph features UNBC Provost Deborah Poff, UNBC President Dr. Charles Jago, an unidentified man, Chancellor Iona Campagnolo and Reverend Ian MacKenzie signing papers. Photograph was taken during the chancellor's tour of Nass Valley, ca. 1992.
Left to right: Charles Jago and unidentified woman, David Fish, Dennis Macknak, Deborah Poff, unidentified woman and child, Iona Campagnolo, Lee Morrison, Ellen Facey, two unidentified women. Teepees visible in background. Photograph was taken during the chancellor's tour of Xats'ull Heritage Village, Soda Creek First Nation, Williams Lake, B.C.
Two unidentified woman are also visible with the group, on far left and in centre with arm raised. Young girl sits on post in foreground. Photograph was taken during the chancellor's tour of Xats'ull Heritage Village, Soda Creek First Nation, Williams Lake, B.C.
Unidentified women stands in centre background with arm raised, and a young girl sits on post in foreground. Photograph was taken during the chancellor's tour of Xats'ull Heritage Village, Soda Creek First Nation, Williams Lake, B.C.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "UNBC 1992".
Unidentified women stands in centre background with arm raised, and a young girl sits on post in foreground. Photograph was taken during the chancellor's tour of Xats'ull Heritage Village, Soda Creek First Nation, Williams Lake, B.C.
Unidentified woman stands third from right, with arm raised. Photograph was taken during the chancellor's tour of Xats'ull Heritage Village, Soda Creek First Nation, Williams Lake, B.C.
View from above; unidentified woman also visible with the group. Photograph taken during the chancellor's tour of Xats'ull Heritage Village, Soda Creek First Nation, Williams Lake, B.C.
Photograph features an arranged collection of Chief’s ceremonial regalia: Chikat robe and Amalayt (headdress), two carved wooden rattles and two leggings.
Handwritten annotation in pen on recto reads: “Qush ahlied (?) or Chilcat [sic] Robe worn by Chiefs when entertaining. Also 'Ahm Ahlied'(?) or Head Ornament Indian Coronet and leggings." Verso also has additional handwritten annotations which have been crossed out.
Photograph depicts ceremonial dancers in a crowd by a totem pole at the opening of the Haisla Recreation Centre in Kitamaat Village.
Photograph depicts ceremonial dancers in button blankets and headdresses near a totem pole at the opening of the Haisla Recreation Centre in Kitamaat Village.
Photograph depicts a young ceremonial dancer wearing white at the opening of the Haisla Recreation Centre in Kitamaat Village.
Photograph depicts First Nations men enjoying a drink at a sporting event.
Photograph depicts a ceremonial dancer wearing a button blanket and headdress with Iona Campagnolo at the opening of the Haisla Recreation Centre in Kitamaat Village.
Photograph depicts a ceremonial dancer in front of crowd wearing a colourful button blanket and headdress at the opening of the Haisla Recreation Centre in Kitamaat Village.
Photograph depicts a ceremonial dancer wearing a colourful button blanket and headdress at the opening of the Haisla Recreation Centre in Kitamaat Village.
Stamped annotation on verso reads: "MAY 1994".
Item is a recording of an audio segment from CBC Radio in which CBC Reporter Karen Tankard provides a documentary report on the CBC Radio program Daybreak on conditions on the Stoney Creek reserve, outside of the farming community of Vanderhoof, 15 years after the inquest into Coreen Thomas’ death in Stoney Creek, BC. Tankard interviews community residents about the inquest and discusses the state of racism in the town of Vanderhoof, BC in 1991 and concludes improvements have not been made.
Audiocassette Summary
Scope and Content: Tankard recalls that Maclean’s Magazine had written at the time of the inquest that “Vanderhoof was one of the most racially prejudiced towns in BC”
Tankard recalls Inquest of Coreen Gay Thomas’ death and includes archived interviews from the 1976 inquest. One Vanderhoof woman says people are putting “racial connotations’ around what is going on in Vanderhoof and that she has ‘many friendships’ with native people that ‘is not unusual’ While Minnie Thomas, a Band Councillor in 1976, discusses how poor white-native relations are on reserve and criticizes the state of housing and the economy on the Stoney Creek reserve
Tankard then talks to students at a dance on the reserve on Sept 15, 1991; she notes there is no high school for the native students. Native student Kevin Prince notes that “white kids don’t like native kids…”
Jackie Thomas who works at the Band Office states that the feelings of racism still exist here in 1991 Yet Vanderhoof Alderman Jack French states that he “doesn’t see it” in Vanderhoof now. Tankerd notes that Native people recall that the Inquest “shamed” the federal government into making some changes – some municipal services now exist and roads are paved in Stoney Creek, yet there is still 80% unemployment and a rise in drug and alcohol abuse. Gordon Smedley, editor of the Nechako newspaper discusses white-native relations 15 years after the inquest – and argues that a ‘core group’ of drug users impacts the image of natives in the community
Stoney Creek Elder Mary John argues that racism still exists and refers to how in the case of one native woman, who was a university graduate that she could not get even a clerical job in Vanderhoof
Vanderhoof resident Hugh Millard – argues that native residents from Stoney Creek are “not hampered by prejudice, but by a lack of education”
Bruce Smith, high school principal, expresses the challenges of keeping native kids in school; that activities have focused on liaison work with the Band. Smith notes the creation of the Yinka Dene Language Institute as means to keeping native students in school - seen as a ‘storefront’ school for adult education
Tankard notes RCMP also attempting to make changes and have hired a native constable
Yet Alderman Jack French notes there is not a lot of contact between the municipal council and the Stoney Creek Band Council – however argues that the municipality has avoided getting involved in such issues – “not our mandate” – the municipality’s mandate is to provide municipal services only.
Tankard recaps the findings of the Inquest – and questions if anything has really changed in Vanderhoof and Stoney Creek since the inquest.
While she recalls that Richard Redekopp was charged with criminal neglect that resulted in Thomas’ death – that due to a lack of evidence he was not convicted
Tankard surmises that perhaps the hope of the inquest that a reunion of white-native community in Vanderhoof and Stoney Creek was ‘too much’ and ‘unachievable’
End of documentary report by Karen Tankard
The Daybreak female radio broadcaster (unidentified) then invites Talk Back listeners to call in on the issue…..
End of tape
Item is a recording of an audio segment from CBC Radio in which a documentary update is provided on the inquest of Coreen Thomas.
Audiocassette Summary
Scope and Content:
- Update on the case of deceased Coreen Gay Thomas
- July 3, 1976 Coreen Thomas is struck and killed by a car walking out to the Stoney Creek Reserve
- Police Report blamed Coreen for causing the accident saying that she was involved in a game of chicken
- The Driver of the car, Mr. Redekopp, had a high blood alcohol content but was not blamed for the crash
- Indians claimed that they were frequently harassed on the road by white motorists
- An inquest occurred and focused on relations between Indians and Whites
- Redekopp, coroner, police detachment, federal department of Indian affairs all seemed to be on trial
- Vanderhoof residents state media coverage is sensational with Vanderhoof unfairly labeled as “the most racially troubled town in Canada”
- Some see problem as due to lack of activities for young people in small communities
- Stoney Creek Indians live in intolerable conditions
- Interview with Stoney Creek Reserve resident regarding sanitation problems; lack of proper sewage system; cases of tuberculosis; high rate of unemployment; she states DIA should be responsible and should come up with a solution
- Problem with the perception of an alcoholic society;
- Archie Patrick, FN leader talks about the prejudice, harassment and racism found in Vanderhoof and other Northern communities towards Native People
- Good things could come out of this inquest – Vanderhoof residents should learn about poor living conditions at Stoney Creek
- Reporter provides update on the inquest; that local Police were accused of intimidating the witnesses
- Coreen Thomas’ death was unnatural but accidental
- Redekopp was negligible because vehicle was going too fast
- Segment of interview with Harry Rankin on the Thomas’ inquest; questions on the state of fairness of the inquest; and the state of white-native relations in northern BC
- Inquest Findings: Measures that should be put into place: Upgrade emergency system in the area, no person be placed in morgue before death certificate is in issue, get resident doctor for hospital, breathalyzers taken as soon as is legally permitted, RCMP officers be encouraged to have parent or guarding present when questioning young people as witnesses, Stoney Creek Band Council and Vanderhoof Council work to establish a Friendship Centre
Documentary ends with interview of Sophie Thomas on need for a change in white-native relations – and ends with excerpt of music from the Vanderhoof ‘pioneer’ song.
End of Tape
Image depicts several unidentified individuals inside a building, one of which is carving a totem pole. The location is uncertain.
Image depicts several unidentified individuals inside a building, one of which is carving a totem pole. The location is uncertain.
An unidentified carved wooden tool or utensil with twine attached, leans against a sheet covered wall behind a carved wooden platter. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “50-3”
Carved wooden sculpture of a seated male figure - his hands on his chest wearing a headdress and a neck ring. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “46-3”.
Carved stone figure on left features a hole at one end through which a rope is strung; while the figure on the right is a soapstone figure carving of a face with two ears to the sides and split ‘u’ ones at the top of the head. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “W.E. Collison.” Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “51-5”
Carvings sit among bushes in front of what appears to be a totem pole.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Eagle & whale Monument Tanu".
Close up of Elder First Nations woman in front of unidentified building. Typed annotation on recto: "Carrier Indian Squaw at Tachi Village Stuart Lake Section - B.C."
Typed annotation on recto: "Tachi Village Indians (Carrier Tribe) Stuart Lake, B.C." Close up of an older woman with a small child on either side. The woman is smoking a pipe, and unidentified buildings can be seen in background.
Buildings visible on shore in distance.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Amidst drift ice on Fishing Bay Nass River. Insert at Page 38. Indian Fishing Encampment".
Canoes sit on shore in foreground beside village buildings. A dock is visible above water in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Alert Bay Indian Ranch No. 14 Alert Bay. To be shown on page 69 or 70, re Alert Bay Mission."
Photograph depicts several houses and headstones built on a rocky shoreline with water in the foreground. Annotation on verso of photograph states: "Canada, B.C. Bella Bella - Indian Missions. Indian Grave houses and monuments"
Map depicts the jurisdictions of the various Indian treaties in existence in 1966, including the boundaries of: no surrenders, exempted-royal proclamation, no valid surrenders, land and hunting rights surrenders, and land surrender only. The whole of Canada is depicted in this map.
Item is a photograph of Ray Williston and other cabinet ministers paddling a birch bark canoe in the grass during BC Centennial celebrations in Prince George.
Originally mounted on poster with photographs 115.1, 115.2, 115.3.
Photograph depicts unidentified woman holding copy of Moran's book, standing behind the author. Table in foreground, window and chairs in background.
Photograph depicts a young boy and group of fourteen women posed for photograph in classroom, chalkboard in background. Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "Aboriginal Women's Training Program, Cowichan Campus, Malaspina University College, Duncan BC".
Photograph depicts Moran seated in chair at unknown location. Red and black button blanket features traditional thunderbird, wolf, and killer whale designs. Television, armchair, and window visible in background.
Photograph depicts Moran seated in chair at unknown location. Red and black button blanket features traditional thunderbird and killer whale designs. Television against wall in background.
Photograph depicts Moran seated in chair at unknown location. Red and black button blanket features traditional thunderbird and killer whale designs. Television, armchair, and window visible in background.
Photograph depicts Moran seated to left of unidentified woman at table with glasses and pitcher of water. Window and chalkboard in background. (Woman also featured in item 2008.3.1.102.2).
Photograph depicts Moran reading excerpt from her book while seated beside table in classroom. Unidentified man and woman can be seen sitting in chairs against wall in background.
Photograph depicts Moran seated on far left, in circle of women in classroom. Desk and chalkboard in background. Photograph was taken at session of Aboriginal Women's Training Program at the Cowichan Campus, Malaspina University College, in Duncan B.C.
Close view of Bridget Moran seated to left of Mary John, both with a hand on the other's shoulder. Log wall in background.
Photograph depicts Moran seated amongst standing group of unidentified women. Overhead machine and chalkboard in background. Photograph was taken at session of Aboriginal Women's Training Program at the Cowichan Campus, Malaspina University College, in Duncan B.C.
Bridget Moran stands on road, unidentified buildings behind on either side. Lake and hills on opposite shore in background. Photo believed to be taken at Metlakatla Lake, B.C. Building on left speculated to be the St. Paul's Anglican Church Learning Centre.
Moran stands in front of building with the sign "METLAKATLA FIRE DEPARTMENT 628-9307".
Photograph depicts Moran walking away from round entrance to long house, unidentified individual visible inside.
Photograph depicts Moran standing in bookstore. Window, door, and plants in background. Photo taken at book signing event for Moran's 'Justa: a First Nations Leader'.
Moran stands on sidewalk in front of building with signs reading "LEARNING CENTRE" and "ST. PAUL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH". Large iron bell sits in grass in foreground, forest in background. Photo believed to have been taken near Metlakatla Lake, B.C.
Handwritten annotation on recto: "Bridget Moran receives a Certificate of Merit from Don Sale and Naomi Miller of the B.C. Historical Federation Writing Competition Committee. May 13/89". Moran stands behind microphone, holding award, Don Sale and Naomi Miller on either side.
Photograph depicts Moran standing with unknown man in front of building with large wood beams in entryway (see also item 2008.3.1.22.25 for image featuring Moran with this young man).
Photograph depicts Bridget Moran standing between Mary John (on left) and unidentified woman. Accompanying photo caption: "Caribou College, Quesnel, March /92".