Fonds consists of mulitmedia records documenting Ida Halpern's professional work and private affairs of her life in Canada. The records document predominantly Halpern's study of the art and culture of First Nation's communities on the West Coast of British Columbia. In particular, Halpern's studies focus on the musical traditions and cultures of First Nations communities. Halpern's recordings include music from the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples, Nuu-chah-nulth peoples, Haida peoples, and the Coast Salish peoples. There is also a considerable amount of textual material concerning Halpern's study of her recordings and publication of her conclusions on her work. Material from her writings as a music critic and supporter of local arts comprises a smaller portion of the fonds. There are also records of Halpern's private affairs in the form of correspondence, photographs and various ephemera.
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's comments: "Hamatsa Song. Old song more than 60 years old for JIM CHIKAI, Chief La̕stulsa (Jim Chikite). He wants the man to eat." The Ha̱mt̕sala Na̱ḵax̱a̱la is the second song of the Cannibal Dance. A part of the Winter Ceremonies known in Kwak̕wala as T̕seka.
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's comments: "Cape Mudge side grandfather time of MAOLI-Campbell River relation - your father side-wolf eagle side." Translation. "
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. Chief Assu commented on the song: "Love Song 100 years ago. G̱uła̱las. Campbell River (Wiweḵ̕a̱m. The widow sings and asks the seal how soon will she be married and the seal immediately disappeared which means she will be married very quickly. If not the head would be still over water to be seen. Chief Assu called it "One of the 1st Cape Mudge songs."
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Assu's comments on songs content: "Why do you drink your whiskey. To get proud. If you drink much you feel good and you think highly of yourself. Somebody tells him something and he says I dreamed what happened already."
Philip Lamarche interviews Ida Halpern about her work recording and studying the ceremonial songs of First Nations societies on the West Coast of British Columbia. Halpern relates how she undertook her project to record First Nations' traditional music with a description of her first agreement to record Chief Billy Assu.
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu commentary: "Image is also on the crest of the totem pole. He made this song. When allied families stay together other groups will never harm them. This Whale is a head man. Another recognized person all under supreme command. There are six families all with their own crest in Cape Mudge. The other families tried many times to defeat them but didn't."
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's comments: "Campbell River (Wiweḵ̕a̱m) Cape Mudge tribe (Wiweḵa̕yi). Name of Medicine Man ia JACHACHA Kilish(J) 40 years ago he had this Potlatch song made. Somebody made it for him. Translation: "I am going to ask the people from all over the coast, 'which chief has brought the best gift?' I have received only good things from other people."
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. Chief Assu commented on the song's storyline: Wakee married Wolasso's daughter. Wolasso gave much copper. (Wolasso (Wa̱lasu) is the ancestor of the Wakeman Sound Tribe.) He filled canoe after canoe. Nobody could lift it. Then came two men and stole it. Wolasso was a sick man but very rich. He burnt his back and somebody told him to go down to the beach and there he found the copper. Wolasso kills them all but copper was gone. A woman cries a song about lost copper.
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's comments: "Cape Mudge side grandfather time of MAOLI-Campbell River relation - your father side-wolf eagle side." Translation. "
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chife Assu's commentary: "Cedar Bark Dance. Woman Dancer. Song is over 30 years years old and belongs to Paddy Grey" Translated by Tom Willie September 1977.
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's commentary: Dancing sister did another dance song. They use a big drum, boxes and she is put in. Somebody is to cut her neck. Four men bet busy with a big knife and first man said he is scared. Second man says he is scared too. Third man says he is going to cut and the knife is dropped. the fourth man says he is going cut and he cuts her and lots of blood. comes out. Then he takes the head and shows it to the people. The event is finished after several hours. Sometime later she comes out again with her head all right. She starts to sing and dance Somebody says they could not kill here because she is a doctor. Only woman doctors fool the people.
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's commentary: Uncle Wamiss, Big Chief Potlatch song. Uncle said the Potlatch (Little Kolassi)/ I ten times pay/ I am one man the mightiest/ I give the canoe KA KOXSILLA/ (All the canoe got name)/ I give canoe to the white head man̓ At marriages they sing the war songs/Kwakiutl-KWA KWALLA Language. Song from the Fort Rupert Tribes ( Kwagu̕ł ).
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's commentary: "Old Woman Song. Kau Minuoko (name of the dance). Belonged to the Doctor Woman. Made up by Chief's Father Kimcho who was 65 years old. Jackoo Melliwamiss, Chief Wamiss daughter, the old medicine woman."
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's commentary: "Blanket called KASELA (note Assu's phonetic spelling) Blanket of Chief Assu i agreen and yellow. A man of Manko made the song for Chief Assu forty years ago. "
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's comments: "Cape Mudge side grandfather time of MAOLI-Campbell River relation - your father side-wolf eagle side." Translation. "
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu commentary: "Image is also on the crest of the totem pole. He made this song. When allied families stay together other groups will never harm them. This Whale is a head man. Another recognized person all under supreme command. There are six families all with their own crest in Cape Mudge. The other families tried many times to defeat them but didn't."
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. Chief Assu's commmentary: "Potlatch Song from two generations past. La̱ko̕sa owned it.
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's commentary: "Wallace's Potlatch Song. He made the song himself.The song is a little bit different. I suppose he received guests and he quickly made a potlatch for them. Bella Bella, Song of Walish Chief, Pepaquinsa Dance: Means a visitor is coming. Translation: We are going to welcome our visitor. Every Potlach Song has "Wi a oh yi ha a wo ye a ha". Translated (paritally) by Tom Wille, 1977.
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's comments: "Campbell River (Wiweḵ̕a̱m) Cape Mudge tribe (Wiweḵa̕yi). Name of Medicine Man ia JACHACHA Kilish(J) 40 years ago he had this Potlatch song made. Somebody made it for him. Translation: "I am going to ask the people from all over the coast, 'which chief has brought the best gift?' I have received only good things from other people."
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's comments on the song: " KOE JA KUSCH made it. The lyrics include 'I am giving lots of canoes. Let us make a party for that. Somebody else should hold a big party.'"
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu commentary: "Image is also on the crest of the totem pole. He made this song. When allied families stay together other groups will never harm them. This Whale is a head man. Another recognized person all under supreme command. There are six families all with their own crest in Cape Mudge. The other families tried many times to defeat them but didn't."
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. Comments from William Wasden: "Finished paying daughter's marriage contract debts. Free woman with high status."
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's commentary: "Party Song: Belongs to Chief Assu. Made by himself. The last time he had a party he made that song. Song describes how he gives away many things." Reproduction of song noted above.
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Assu's comments on song content: "The girl is too high and think the man is too low for her. People tell that he is too low. He answers long time ago he was big people too."
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. Chief Assu's comments: "This is an old song from long time ago, about 300-400 years ago. A canoe came and chief gets a song for canoe for arriving people. Jeko Koliss owned this song. Also known as Yeḵu̕tła̱las, One Who Gives Property."
Ida Halpern recorded Bily Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's song commentary: "Doctor Woman Sings. Mary Wamiss (Wamis River Owner)."
