The First Nations of British Columbias South Coast - Essay Example

The First Nations of British Columbia’s South Coast The First Nations of British Columbia’s South Coast Roy (1983) in chapter 1 Prehistory of Northwest Coast narrates a story concerning Indian people who arrived at the Columbia River in Oregon after a journey along the pacific coast from south Alaska (Roy, 1983). The chapter indicates that the time spent during which the journey was not documented or known, though it is believed to have taken place between the retreat of the last continental glacier and the arrival of the first Europeans (VirtualMuseum.Ca, 2005). The chapter’s focus lies on the art in materials that were preserved archeologically from portions of Columbian River northward, and other lower parts of Northwest Coast.

There are other issues discussed such as the historic Indian cultures that were identified by explorers (VirtualMuseum.Ca, 2008). Nevertheless, unlike the Southwest, the place lacked intensive archaeology that would be stimulated by the stone ruins; instead, there were potlatches, totem poles, masks, which depicted the prehistoric cultures attributed to clam shells.On the other hand, an analysis of the Blackman’s “Facing the Future, Envisioning the Past” (1990) explains the way contemporary Northwest Coast art was perceived as a result of revival that had commenced in 1960s.

In fact, the Blackman (1990) argues that the bulk of contemporary art was focused on commercial market, given that the buyers were influenced by the meaning. Nevertheless, it is significant to acknowledge that historical archival photographs from the Northwest Coast are substantial resources to facilitate the analysis of the North coast art and material culture. Blackman offers a fascinating illustration of the Northwest Coast Art through publication of historical and contemporary photographs, research slides of museum collection piece.

Chapter two focuses on the form in Northwest Coast Indian art, whereby the Holm (1983) explains that the styles identified in this area were partially derived from two-dimensional space. These entail a division of continuous process, which was attributed to both positive and negative from of silhouette and sculptures on the Northwest Coast. Moreover, the chapter indicates that Northwest was known for three-dimensional sculptural art and concept. Nevertheless, there chapter offers a description of the fundamental distinction between arts of various cultural groups on the Coast, and an illustration of the exemplary examples through a presentation of some of the early pieces (Holm, 1983).

In fact, some of these pieces can be accessed via websites, which are hosted by leading museums; thus, Holm had focused on the art museums in U.S.A and Canada, which led to publishing of the book (The National Museum of the American Indian, 2012). Therefore, there are significant details covered in this chapter that can assist in establishing the Northwest coast art, and it helps people with an interest in the art to have a different perception towards various design elements. An analysis of George Heye’s views on the Northwest coast art, explains that there were series of Kawakwaka’wakw ceremonies masks, rattles and regalia, and this is the same idea raised by Blackman in her article.

Therefore, the ideas as related and this indicates a sense of rationality and reliability of information. Chapter eight is in the Borden’s paper on prehistoric art of the lower Fraser region seeks to illustrate some rare pieces, though this illustration is can be considered a companion to Susan Point’s website. It also presents a sequent expression of prehistoric art in the Lower Fraser valley, which is in the Southwestern mainland of British Columbia. In fact, the paper has emphasized on analytical portions of some known types of regional art, and presenting them closely in a proper chronological sequence.

In addition, the paper uses the basic chronology, which is developed form Milliken-Esilao locality, which was approximately four kilometers from Yale B.C settlement (Borden, 1983). The chapter divides the manifestation of artistic expression in to five provisional periods, which is based on the relationship with radiocarbon-dated components and phases. In fact, the chapter presents these sequent periods, respective durations and cultural phases by each period, and the provisional periods, sub-divisions, and modifications of the chronological schemes that are anticipated in the future.

In conclusion, the paper has provided a response that summarizing the research on the unit’s topic: The First Nations of British Columbia’s South Coast, whereby the content in each unit has been and its required reading has been reviewed in order to gather relevant information. The paper covers a summary of the chapters of required readings, which provided guidance for a research in other relevant materials. In fact, the video concerning various pieces of art was interesting since it creates visuals that contribute significantly to understanding of the issues in an extensive way.

In this case, I agree with the arguments in the sources from authors like Roy (1983) in chapter 1 Prehistory of Northwest Coast narrates a story, given that the information corresponds from various national museums. ReferencesBlackman, M. (1990). Facing the Future, Envisioning the Past: Visual Literature and Contemporary Northwest Coast Masks. JSTOR : Arctic Anthropology. 27(2), Retrieved on 23 November 2012 from < http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/40316224?uid=3738336&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21101470127677> Borden, C. (1983). Chapter 8: Prehistoric Art of the Lower Fraser Region.

London: Archaeology PressHolm, B. (1983). Chapter 2: Form in Northwest Coast Art. London: Archaeology Press Qwalsius. (2010). Coast Salish design elements. [Motion Picture] . United States: Youtube. Viewed on 23 November 2012 from Roy L. (1983). Chapter 1: Prehistory of Northwest Coast. London: Archaeology Press The National Museum of the American Indian. (2012). Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian. George Gustav Heye Center.

Retrieved on 23 November 2012 from VirtualMuseum.Ca. (2005). A journey to A New Land. SFU Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Retrieved on 23 November 2012 from    VirtualMuseum.Ca. (2008). A Journey into Time Immemorial. SFU Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Retrieved on 23 November 2012 from