Michael D. Blackstock (author)
Antonia Mills (Thesis advisor)
University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)

1996

Master of Arts (MA)

First Nations Studies

Number of pages in document: 170

This thesis examines the history and meanings of Gitxsan Gyetim Gan, or face carved in a [living] tree , or tree art. In this work the author tries to answer an number of questions about this art form, such as, What are the purposes of tree art? who is the audience? why has tree art been so invisible to the colonizer? how can tree art be protected? and why were faces a common image carved in trees? To find answers to these questions, the author called upon adaawk (a Gitxsan term for oral history and stories).

Gitksan Indians -- Wood-carving.
Gitksan Indians -- Legends.
Gitksan art.
Tsimshian Indians -- Wood-carving.
Tsimshian Indians -- Legends.
Tsimshian art.
Carrier Indians -- Wood-carving.
Carrier Indians -- Legends.
Carrier Indians -- Art.
Totem poles -- British Columbia.

https://doi.org/10.24124/1996/bpgub14

thesis