CALL NUMBER: T3536:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Reminiscences of an Hesquiat RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-06-29 SUMMARY: In an interview with Margaret Whitehead, Jimmy John talks about his father's life, as well as his own. Father's background and life story: smallpox epidemic in Nootka when he was young; family was Catholic because Father Brabant lived in Nootka at the time; father's memories of being taught by Fathers Brabant and Stanley; Father Brabant did not want him to go to school because he wanted to teach him himself; attempt on Father Brabant's life by some Natives; Catholic Church built by Nootka Natives; his mother's family from Hesquiat were carvers, but his father was not a carver; how he learned to carve; carved for the Natives, not white people; his first wife -- traditional marriage, wife chosen by his parents; came to Nanaimo to carve silver; first wife died, met second wife (Jimmy's mother); story of how he got land in Nanaimo. TRACK 2: More on Jimmy's father's life: experiences on a schooner -- went to the Bering Sea as a cook, did not get paid much money; shipwrecks along the west coast; used a canoe when he was hunting; early memories of Victoria; always liked to fish; Rivers Inlet anecdote; moving to Nanaimo; back to Nootka to visit occasionally; related to chief line of Nootka's; potlatches; reason his older brothers did not become chief; Nootka's acceptance of Catholic religion; discussion of tape he did about his memories.

CALL NUMBER: T3536:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Reminiscences of an Hesquiat RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-06-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Jimmy John discusses the life of his father with Margaret Whitehead: translating his father's speeches at Nootka ceremonies (from Native language into English); discussion of dancing and singing at potlatches; potlatches forbidden under Catholic religion in early days. [TRACK 2: blank; end of interview.]

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Interview with Leslie John RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-12-21 SUMMARY: Nootka artist Leslie John discusses his family background; his work as a wood carver and silversmith; aspects of design in Nootkan art; the Nootkan whale hunt; maintaining family legends and traditions through carvings; different types of masks; Chief Maquinna; the tradition of the potlatch; languages; talking sticks; stories about first contact with Europeans (at Departure Bay and at Nootka); and other subjects. (Ed Tatoosh was also present at the interview, and makes several comments on the tape.);

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1966-02-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Leo J. Bettison recalls some of his experiences in the central interior of BC, 1912 to 1914; and in the south Okanagan, 1918 to 1922. He describes his arrival in Victoria in 1912; work on Saltspring Island; work surveying and trapping in the Fort George area; joining up for World War I; travels; people in the Fort George area, including Billy Seymour and "Six-Mile Mary"; a potlatch on Saltspring Island; more details about the Fort George area; incidents in the bush; his return to Canada after the war, and his work in Saanich. TRACK 2: Mr. Bettison describes the making of straw;berry jam; going to the Okanagan and his early work there; farming near Oliver; a story about a deer shot near Fairview; Fairview and the people there; orchards in Oliver; irrigation; an anecdote about soldier-settlement schemes; buying hay from "Old MacIntyre"; Bill Skunover; stories about Indians in the Oliver area.

The series consists of Mildred Valley Thornton's audio recordings of Indigenous Northwest Coast songs and folklore, mainly from the Bella Coola and Kwakiutl traditions. The recordings were made sometime between 1950 and 1954 on a variety of platforms including sound disks, wire recordings and reel tapes. There are duplicates between the various types of recordings as Thornton may have copied the recordings from one platform to another. Among the speakers or performers heard are Isaac Jacobs, Mungo Martin, and Mary Moon.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1967 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Bob Wilson discusses his early life in Port Hardy, including potlatches and a Hamatsa ceremony. Then he discusses Fort Rupert as an Indian village in 1873, and fishing in 1911. Then Mrs. Wilson describes her early life at Fort Rupert in 1913, and her impressions of the impact of white progress on the Indians. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Mrs. Charles Pepper : rural Manitoba community life, 1910-1930 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1930 RECORDED: Parson (B.C.), 1972-11 SUMMARY: Mrs. Charles Pepper was born in 1909 and discusses growing up near Elkhorn, Manitoba; teaching in the interior of British Columbia; teaching at Alert Bay Indian School; and attending potlatches at Alert Bay.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1967-06-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Nick Cadwallader discusses the beginnings of Fort Rupert with Rupert Hunt in 1884; a description of Fort Rupert; hand logging in Seymour Inlet; his uncle Spencer and his cannery at Alert ;Bay in 1870; longhouses; the potlatch; Hamatsa ceremony; and fishing. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-03-26 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Pattie Alexander Haslam, nee Cox, recalls her first impressions of the Cape Beale Lighthouse; her schooling in Victoria; and a trip back to the lighthouse by Indian canoe. She describes her; life at the lighthouse; her mother and father; Indians; potlatches; costumes; Indian whaling techniques; Captain Spring; and sealing schooners. TRACK 2: She recalls local shipwrecks. She talks abo;ut her life in Victoria while she was at school; Sir James Douglas; Lady Douglas; Bishop Cridge, and the Cridge family. She recalls her life in Alberni; her work in the telegraph office; and her reports for the CPR from Cape Beale. She talks about cougars, and hunting at Cape Beale.

The collection comprises sound recordings of Kwakiutl songs and ceremonies, 1959-1967. These tapes are copies of recordings accumulated by Peter A. Knox of Fort Rupert, from a variety of sources (including Mungo Martin and the CBC). The material includes recordings of Mungo Martin, Emma Hunt, Helen Hunt and Frank Savey; a potlatch for Peter Hunt; a funeral ceremony for David Martin (d. 1959); and a potlatch for David Martin.

RECORDED: Alert Bay (B.C.), 1968-05-15 SUMMARY: Henry Speck, Chief of the Turner Island Band [the Clowothiz (sp?)] is interviewed. He speaks of his initiation into the Hamatsa Rite, a secret 3-month training period, when he was 8 years old. He als;o talks about the banning of the Potlatch ceremony, the planning for the ceremony, and the economic benefits to the people. NOTE: There is a footnote to this tape regarding a request by Henry Speck to; remove certain portions of the interview.;

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1968-05-12 SUMMARY: This tape concludes the John Hunt interview begun on T4365:0262, with Jane Cook acting as translator. Mr. Hunt speaks about the potlatch, the life events it traditionally celebrated, and the fact that; it was a way for the Kwakiutl to help one another -- a type of economic system. He discusses the perceived reasons for the banning of the potlatch, and the role that the church and the government pla;yed in this event.;

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1968-05 SUMMARY: This recording is an interview with Mrs. Mary Johnson, Kwakiutl, from Fort Rupert. She talks about the dances passed down from her grandparents, and the traditions of the potlatch ceremony. She descri;bes the period when the potlatch was banned, the arrests of the participants, the confiscation of artifacts, and the trials in Vancouver.;

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1968-05-12 SUMMARY: This tape continues Mrs. Johnson's interview from T4365:0261. Also heard are John Hunt and his daughter, Mrs. Jane Cook, who interprets for her father. Mr. Hunt is interviewed about his memories and v;iews about the banning of the potlatch ceremony. He is asked about the purpose of the potlatch, and the traditions associated with the ceremony.;

RECORDED: Alert Bay (B.C.), 1968-05-15 SUMMARY: Continuation of the round table discussion among: Mrs. Ruth Cook, Mrs. Pearl Alfred, Stanley Hunt, Mary Manley and Frances Speck. Topics include: the contemporary potlatch, families, and the moderniza;tion of traditions.;

RECORDED: Alert Bay (B.C.), 1968-05-15 SUMMARY: This tape comprises a round table discussion between Stanley Hunt, Mrs. Ruth Cook and Mrs. Pearl Alfred from Alert Bay. They discuss the controversy that surrounds the revival of the potlatch and the ;present-day [1968] version of the historic ceremony. They also discuss the politics of hereditary chiefs and elected councils.;