• Introduction
• The N'laka'pamux Territory
• About N'laka'pamux Basketry
  and the work of James Alexander Teit (1864-1922)
• The Pearson Basket Collection at the LCM
• N'laka'pamux Basketry Making Today
• Conservation of the Baskets
• N'laka'pamux Basket Makers
  • Langley Centennial Museum
  • Yale & District Historical Society
  • Lytton First Nation
  • Kwantlen First Nation
• Glossary of Terms
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgements

Basket Maker Bios

Emma Florence “Kolchasta”

1882 - 1944

“She did fine, exquisite basket work,
and favoured diamond patterns.”

Emma Florence was born in June of 1882 in North Bend, BC. She was the daughter of Big Charlie, also of North Bend. Her mother’s name is unknown at this time. The Roman Catholics record Emma’s aboriginal name as ‘kolchasta’.

Emma married William ‘Billy’ Florence on November 8th, 1907, in the North Bend Catholic Church. Billy was born April 15th, 1880, the son of Joe Florence, a Portuguese immigrant, and Helene, a native woman of North Bend. Joe also had children with Margaret of North Bend, Billy’s half-siblings Jimmy, Catherine and Joseph.

Billy worked as a labourer for the Department of Highways. He and Emma had one child, Minnie, who died in 1936 at age 33 of heart complications.

Emma may possibly have been either the aunt or half sister of Lena Hope, whose father is also recorded as Charlie of North Bend. Another recorded child of Charlie is Chief John Charlie, born in 1880, from a mother named Hiagatuo.

Emma did fine, exquisite basketwork, as can be seen in this basket. Her designs favoured diamond patterns, among others.

Emma died of over exertion in June of 1944, in Boston Bar, at the age of 62. Her husband Billy died at age 77 in 1957.

Emma’s baskets were collected in the 1920’s by Ms. K.E. Pearson Southwell of North Bend, and donated to the Historic Yale Museum and the Langley Centennial Museum by her daughter, Mrs. Aida Freeman.