Coast Salish Totem by Wesley Dick

Coast Salish Model Pole from the Coqualeetza Indian School by Wesley Dick. A well-carved and painted model pole that was created as part of the Coqualeetza Indian School arts and crafts program by a student named Wesley Dick. Also known as Chilliwack Home, the Coqualeetza Indian School was operated by the Methodist United Church from 1889 to 1940. The school was located in Sardis, BC, near Chilliwack in Sto:lo Nation territory, so it’s a reasonable assumption to make that the artist of this pole was from the Sto:lo Nation. The pole dates to the 1930s and features three or four figures: a bird, a humanoid face over a pair of wolf-like figures (which may in fact be a single Sisiutl figure, the three-headed sea monster), and a bear. The verso is signed “Wesley Dick” and features a tin placard that reads “Genuine Indian Craft/Made by Coqualeetza Indian School/Sardis, BC.” 2.6" W x 19.4" H