By Rudy Kelly
The prized Native artifact collection known as the Dundas Collection may not be returning to its rightful home for good, but the Tsimshian Nation will at least be able to host the first exhibition of it.
The Museum of Northern BC in Prince Rupert will be hosting arguably its biggest exhibit ever – if not in size then in significance, both locally and in the eyes of the international media. The exhibit of the Dundas collection opened March 2, 2007 and will run for five weeks.
Rupert curator Susan Marsden said the “media hype” has been incredible ever since the collection went on sale last October in New York and Canadian museums and the Tsimshian Nation began scrambling to obtain it.
“Everything has a story and the story of this collection is pretty amazing,” said Marsden. “It has had quite the odyssey.”
The sacred objects originate from the Tsimshian village of Metlakatla, BC, which is located just west of Prince Rupert. The objects were obtained in 1863 by Anglican missionary William Duncan from Chief Paul Legaic, as part of Legaic’s conversion to Christianity.
Shortly after Duncan was given the collection, it ended up in the hands of fellow clergyman Robert Dundas and was recently owned by Dundas’ great-grandson, Simon Carey, who lives in London. Hailed as the world’s greatest private collection of Canadian Aboriginal artifacts, it was put up for auction by Carey last October.
Canadian institutions, particularly the Museum of Civilization in Hull, QC, had shown interest in the collection much earlier but couldn’t meet Carey’s asking price. He didn’t believe that he should simply give the collection back because of its cultural significance and despite the fact that it was virtually stolen under the guise of God’s wishes.
“They (artifacts) weren’t obtained fairly,” said James Bryant, of the Allied Tsimshian Tribes, explaining that missionaries insisted that his ancestors surrender all of their pagan items to demonstrate their acceptance of Christianity.
The items weren’t offensive enough, though, to stop Dundas – an enthusiastic collector who wrote excitedly about the items in his journal – from keeping them and bringing them home.
“When the missionaries came, they (Chiefs) were told to give up their names, their regalia, all their possessions,” said Bryant. “They weren’t paid at all. The items were obtained for nothing.”
The collection’s auction was held by Sotheby’s and it went for more than double what Sotheby’s predicted, at over $7 million. The shaman’s mask alone went for an astounding $1.8 million. Other high ticket pieces were a carved antler club for $940,000, and a frog clan hat for $660,000.
“The tools used in those days were not as scientific as they are now,” said Bryant. “It took longer to make, they were very unique. They’re priceless.”
The bulk of the collection was purchased by Canadian art agent Donald Ellis on behalf of Canadian philanthropists David Thomson and his cousin Sherry Brydson, son and niece of the late Kenneth Thomson, a former newspaper chain owner and noted art collector. The Museum of Civilization purchased five small pieces while the Rupert museum – in partnership with the Royal BC Museum – was only able to obtain a wooden spoon for a price of almost $29,000.
While the Tsimshian would have preferred to see the entire collection repatriated, they are pleased that the Canadian owners of the pieces are going to at least honor their cultural significance by first displaying them in their place of origin, a decision that came out of a meeting between the owners, museums, and Tsimshian chiefs in January.
The Chiefs and Elders will have a private ceremonial viewing first before the museum exhibition opens.
Marsden said the opening will follow Tsimshian protocol and thanks will be given to the owners and people who facilitated bringing the collection to Rupert. At the end of the five-week show, there will also be a blessing to send it on its way, as it will be part of a national museum tour.
Ultimately, the collection will be separated again and placed in a number of museums, mostly Canadian, which is a partial victory for the Tsimshian, who estimate there are at least 26,000 Tsimshian cultural treasures in museums around the world.
