Collection search - Totem Land

Record information – Brief

1

Totem Land

Item number (ISN):

103142

Hierarchical level:

Item (Accession level)

Item number (ISN):

103142

Link to related resource:

Type of material:

Moving images

Found in:

Archives / Film, Video and Sound

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Record information – Details

Fonds/collection:

CANADA. NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF CANADA / MUSÉES NATIONAUX DU CANADA

Accession:

1971-0053

Media:

Film

Part:

1 of 1

Production company:

Associated Screen News Ltd.

Production credit:

producer, B.E. Norrish; photography, J.B. Scott; editing/titles, Terry Ramsaye

Description:

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This film visits the Indians of Vancouver Island where remnants of ancient culture survive the invasion of Indian territory by commerce in the form of fishing fleets at Clayoquot, paper mills exploiting the forests, and mines invading the mountains. Native people and whites are shown working in these industries. However, at Nootka the art and culture of the ancient days of the Indian tradition are still visible. Totems still stand, the cemetery mixes ancient belief and modern white culture holding traditional carvings beside Christian crosses and ships and sewing machines standing for the use of the dead. The Quatsino "House of the Dead", though long deserted, still stands with its totems. Lucy Moon and her husband, John Monkey, members of the first families of Quatsimo, arrive by canoe. Lucy Moon carries evidence of traditional ways with her fashionable long head, a result of binding with bark when young. At Fort Rupert the totem creed flourishes. George W. Hunt carves totems with traditional tools. Mrs. Hunt, an authority on tribal healing and religion, is shown in traditional dress doing a ritual dance to drums and invoking the Spirit wearing a carved mask. Juliette Gaultier de la Verendrye, Canadian soprano, learns the Indian songs and chants. Examples of Indian handcrafted mats, rattles carved in totemistic images for ceremonial music, and religious masks are shown. Mrs. Hunt is shown making baskets and gathering food for a "shore dinner". She gathers clams with stick and shell, herbs, and wild vegetables including carrots, rice, and onions. A canoe is paddled through the sun setting on the water in the final shot of the film. <9mn>

Language:

Silent with English intertitles

Notes:

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1. Titles and footage of Nootka and Fort Rupert is the same footage as appears in ASN's TOTEM LAND at ISN 102188, although they are different films.~2. No end titles.
Ordering and viewing options

Conditions of access:

Open

Consultation copy number:

V1 8207-0081
V1 2001-03-0019

Restrictions on consultation:

~No Restrictions / Pas de restrictions

Donor restrictions:

No donor restrictions.

Copyright status:

Under copyright.

Copyright owner:

Copyright owner: Astral Media Inc.

Reproduction access:

To be Determined / À déterminer

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Date modified:: 2024-06-27