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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
  • The Baskets
  • The Collection
• N'laka'pamux Basketry Making Today
• Conservation of the Baskets
• N'laka'pamux Basket Makers
• Glossary of Terms
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgements

Thunderbird or Eagle Basket

Design Description

Thunderbirds, eagles, or birds, wings folded down, alternating red and black, two lines per bird outline; on length sides: two rows of four birds, one row above the other. On width sides: two rows of two birds, one above the other. Each bird head is looking in the opposite direction of the ones adjoining and beside them.

Length

Approximately 12 inches or 30.28 cm

Width

Approximately 6 inches or 15 cm

Height

Approximately 12 inches or 30.28 cm

Shape and Use

General storage; rectangular and deep, flared from bottom to top. Not an apparent "burden" or "berry basket," as it has no handles, handle holes, or tumpline attachments. Good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry, natural red and dyed Black.

Culture

N'laka'pamux, specifically North Bend.

History

This basket is not part of the Pearson Collection, it was examined in the first phase of this project because it appears in the James basket photos.

It was donated on June 15, 1959, by Ms. Eileen H. Beaumont. The description provided by the donor was as follows:

"This basket, about whose origin I know nothing, was used as an exhibit in a murder trial at Merritt over thirty years ago. When the office was moved a number of articles were burned and this was rescued by a bystander who recognized its value."

John Haugen feels that this may have been the Sterling murder trial, but more research must be done to confirm this. In any case, this basket is definitely a James basket, as it is featured in all of the James basket photos of 1938.

Notes:

This basket was brought to my attention during my analysis of the Pearson Collection. It had been identified as one of the baskets in the James photos. There are five known James basket photos.

John Haugen is the lands coordinator for Lytton First Nations; he also works with community elders in recording history; and has a special interest in Fraser Canyon basketry.