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• 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

Hannah Stout "Kwonkwaintko"

1851 – 1926

“Chief Stout’s Wife”

These unique rattles made by Hannah were collected and recorded by Ms. KE Pearson of North Bend only as being made by Chief Stout’s wife. The only Stouts local to that area were George and Hannah Stout of Boston Bar, and it is believed that she was referring to Hannah.

Hannah Kwonkwaintko was born in North Bend about 1851, to Tlam-hien of Kopchitchin, Boston Bar Indian Reserve # 1. Her mother’s name is not recorded, but her birthplace was noted as North Bend.

Hannah married George Stout (Soye) of Spuzzum, born about 1858 to Swiech and Zilzilatco, both also from Spuzzum.

Spuzzum IR # 8 is named Stout, and it is quite likely that George came from there. There are several reasons he might have been called ‘Chief Stout.’ He may have been a local leader or speaker for the people of Stout, or he could have become a chief in North Bend or Boston Bar after his marriage to Hannah. Another possibility is that he was a ‘chief of the spirit’, which meant that he was appointed by his people or his clergyman, as a leader in the church similar to a Captain or a Watchman.

Hannah and George Stout may have had at least three children, two of whom were both named David. The first was baptized in 1895, and his death is recorded as March 1897, in Kopachichin, (North Bend) Boston Bar IR # 2. The second David was baptized on September 26th, 1898. His death is recorded as November 2nd, 1898. Someone named Willie Soye was recorded as a witness for both baptisms, possibly a brother to George.

A third child, Jennie Soye, is recorded as a student at All Hallows between 1887 and 1891. She is listed as the daughter of George Soyé, mother dead. This leads to the conclusion that Hannah may have been George’s second wife, married sometime after the 1887 notation.

Hannah died of green sickness in 1926 and George died in 1928 from heart disease. They are buried in the Kopachitchin Indian Cemetery in North Bend, BC.

Hannah’s meticulous handiwork and attention to design can be appreciated by close inspection of the rattles shown here. It is a wonderful example of her creativity and skill.