4 MOA / Museum of Archeology

"The newcomers has only been here for a very short period of time : less than 200 years.

That´s only a blink of an eye in comparison to the 9.000 years we´ve been here"

                qiyaplenax (w)
                Howard E. Grant

Arthur Erickson, canadian architect, designed the Museum as as a reflection of the structures of the buildings of the indigenous peoples of the northwest coast.

Many different communities inhabited this área.

The Musqueam occupied the place where is now the UBC (University of British Columbia). Museum is part of it.

Picture from Sa?lista?, Vancouver aboriginal, is believed they come from Asia thousands of years ago.

Construction and totem, original settlement.
Aboriginal people were short in stature.

Haida house outdoor of the Museum.

In the house could be living 20 to 50 people.

Totem was in the front, facing the sea to protect them.

Only a door, no windows and a hole on the roof, in the middle above the fire place.

The Haida territory is the archipelago of Haida Gwaii in northern British Columbia.
Haida society continues to be very engaged in the production of a robust and highly stylized art form, a leading component of Northwest Coast art, frequently expressed in large wooden carvings (totem poles). (wiki-extract)

Charlie James (Yakudla) (1870-1938) carved this sisiyutl for ceremonial use despite federal laws prohibiting the potlatch (1884 - 1951).

Seal and salmon were eaten on this celebration.

A potlatch is a feast, an elaborate ritual and gift-giving economy to evidence the prestige of the donnor. Since the practice was de-criminalized in the post-war years, the potlatch has re-emerged in some communities.

Bill Reid is probably the most appreciated artist in MOA.
The wolf wood sculpture is a master piece.

 "The raven and the first men", best known sculpture, is displayed on the central space of Bill Reid rotunda, along with other works in jewelry.

During my four weeks visiting Vancouver that was a piece of news related to remaining First Nation people at that moment. It seems they don´t like transparency, why? Sorry I don´t know exactly the subject but I have read alike indian communities in the USA they have Casinos on their reserve lands. So something on this way probably.

The Museum is completed with a huge collection of pieces of world arts and culture such as this Buddha whose origin is labeled with the doubt as maybe chinese or japanese.

Next : Downtown