From Paris auction block to B.C. First Nation’s museum, rare artifact comes home

ALERT BAY, B.C. – A rare cultural artifact has been returned to a remote British Columbia First Nation, thanks to a grant from the federal government.

The Chilkat ceremonial blanket was recently put up for auction in Paris, and purchased by the Kwakwa_ka_’wakw (kwa-kwa-KA-wak) nations with a $27,000 grant from Canadian Heritage.

The blanket is now on display at the U’mista Cultural Society in Alert Bay, on the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

The blanket was woven by Anisalaga, also known as Mary Ebbets, a Tlingit (Kling-kit) woman who brought the art of Chilkat weaving to the Island nations in the mid-19th century.

Made of cedar bark and wool, the Chilkat blankets take up to a year to complete before they are worn in ceremonial dances.

Sarah Holland, head of U’mista, says the blanket’s return ensures the art form can be passed on to future generations.