COQUALEETZA RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL

During the year an Indian Handicraft branch has been opened up under the efficient
direction of Miss Aust of Columbian College, New Westminster. This branch includes, card-
ing, spinning, knitting and weaving of yarns into Cowichan sweaters, weaving or hooking of
them into rugs, using only symbolic native designs. The girls are generally artistic and have
some racial pride in their own special designs. They have also used commercial wools for
weaving on simple and more complicated looms. The result has been rather artistic home-
craft such as radio mats, purses, belts and bandings. Into these they have woven canoe,
whale, thunder bird, arrow heads, basket and totem designs.

In these days handicraft is being brought to the front. No better moment could have
been selected than the present for the effort we are making, especially as the principal of
our school is endeavoring to co-relate Indian handicraft art and industry for the economic
benefit of the native people themselves. We feel this endeavor should receive encouragement
This work gives the girls a sense of accomplishment, it develops their artistic sense and may
possibly help them when they leave school to earn a livelihood.

Native Handicraft

In February Dr. Raley made a trip to the cities in Canada and the Eastern States in the
interest of Indian education in handicraft arts which, he believed if developed and conserved,
will make possible permanent occupation for the graduates of residential schools when they
return to their villages and reserves.

The means to this end will be a revival of Indian handicraft arts and the application of
Indian designs and symbols, which abound in British Columbia, to commercial and manu-
factured commodities. It is a field to be cultivated, especially as the Pacific Coast is one of
the three large cultural areas of the continent. At Ottawa the Department was sympathetic,
open-minded and anxious. Dr. Raley found at Washington the leading officials of the bureau
of Indian Affairs were enthusiastic. He also finds in the museums in British Columbia, Toronto,
Ottawa, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, plenty of material for students and artists
who wish to study Indian design. Apart from symbolic significance he feels there is strength,
rhythm and quality of a unique and peculiar character not found elsewhere.

_He gratefully acknowledges, in his research endeavor the kindness of Professor Mclll-
waithe, Dr. Dymond Jenness, Mr. Harlan Smith, Dr. Swanton, Dr. Ryan and many others.

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