Etched Coast Salish Canoe Paddle

An unusual Coastal Salish paddle from the University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology. There are some decorative scrimshaw etchings on both sides of the blade and grip area including a date of 1936.

Coast Salish:  Musqueam
Object Number: Nbz911

Image © UBC Museum of Anthropology
Photographed by Jessica Bushey

Creative Common License

Here is more info according to the webpage:

The paddle has carvings on both  sides of the handle and paddle. One side has the year 1936 carved on the handle and a salmon motif surrounded by floral designs on the paddle. The other side has a floral design on the handle and the letters BC surrounded by floral designs on the paddle. The carvings look like scrimshaw with the etchings filled with ink to stand out. The handle has a 20 cm cord tied around it. 

The Paddle was used to paddle British royalty in 1936 in New Westminster. It is also part of a larger collection of objects honouring Maggie Pointe, sister of Shane Pointe and Gina Grant. On February 1, 2003, it was used for a memorial potlatch at Musqueam to honour the life  of Maggie Pointe and was then given away, as is the custom, to the UBC Museum of Anthropology. On March 18, 2003 it was featured in the exhibit "To Wash Away the Tears," a collaboration between Shane, Gina, MOA and the students of the Critical Curatorial Studies MA program.