Back to Civilization Clicks!
Gateway to Aboriginal Heritage Native material culture in Canada
Introduction Objects Photos & Papers Themes Kids & Teachers

 

James Teit Photos

James Alexander Teit (1864-1922) took thousands of photographs portraying the Interior Salish of British Columbia in the early years of the 20th century. As early as 1894, Teit helped anthropologist Franz Boas take pictures at Spences Bridge, the small town in British Columbia where Teit lived. By 1911, when Teit was hired by Edward Sapir of the Geological Survey of Canada, now the Canadian Museum of Civilization, photography was an accepted part of fieldwork, and Teit set out to develop an ethnographic album of Interior Salish images.

This page provides a link between the photographs taken by Teit during his years employed by the Geological Survey, 1911-1918, and the artifacts he collected. Click on an image to see a close-up view of some of the objects in the photograph that are now part of the Museum's ethnology collection. The photographic work of James Teit can also be seen in the Canadian Museum of Civilization Mercury Publication The Interior Salish Tribes of British Columbia: A Photographic Collection (1987) edited by Leslie Tepper.
Ususéllst, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Ususéllst Flash Version

Ususéllst, a Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) man wearing traditional clothing (fringed fur cape, woven bark and fur hat, beaded cuffs and rattle) , profile view, photographed in 1913 at Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Buckskin Dress, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Buckskin Dress Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) buckskin dress, fringed an painted, photographed in 1913 at Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Mat and cape, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Mat and cape Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) mat and cape woven from elaeagnus bark, used as raincoats. The photo was taken at Spences Bridge, British-Columbia.
Cedar root baskets, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Cedar root baskets Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) cedar root baskets with imbricated designs photographed in 1912 at Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Coiled baskets, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Coiled baskets Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) coiled baskets. Most of the baskets are plate shape and show designs of inside surface.
Christine TsEkEnêlxEmux, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Christine TsEkEnêlxEmux Flash Version

Christine TsEkEnêlxEmux, a Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) woman, wearing traditional clothing; it consists of a type of dress usually worn by older women, on occasion also worn by young girls, beaded moccasins, fringed, painted leggings, and a fringed skirt, all made of buckskin.
Coiled baskets, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Coiled baskets Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) coiled baskets, Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Kwel kwelstculem, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Kwel kwelstculem Flash Version

Kwel kwelstculem , a Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) man wearing a fur robe and a warrior's headdress made of smoked moose hide and set with eagle and hawk feathers wrapped with red cloth.
Sinsimtko, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Sinsimtko Flash Version

Sinsimtko , a Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) woman wearing a traditional dress of caribou skin and a headband representing "flowers", made of tanned skin, and decorated with small blue, black, white, yellow and pink glass beads.
Drums and drumsticks, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Drums and drumsticks Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) drums and drumsticks, Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Young man, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Young man Flash Version

Young Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) man wearing an eagle feather bonnet and a woven goat hair blanket wrapped around his body, British Columbia
Buckskin dress, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Buckskin dress Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) buckskin dress, Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Traditional costume and drum, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Traditional costume and drum Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) traditional costume and drum, British Columbia
Coiled baskets, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Coiled baskets Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) coiled baskets, Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Buckskin shirt, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Buckskin shirt Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) buckskin shirt, British Columbia
Buckskin dress, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Buckskin dress Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) buckskin dress, Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Erik Teit, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Erik Teit Flash Version

Erik Teit wearing Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) clothing made of buckskin, Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Magnus Teit, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Magnus Teit Flash Version

Magnus Teit wearing a Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) cap and beaded belt, Spences Bridge, British Columbia
Chief John Tetlenitsa, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Chief John Tetlenitsa Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) Chief John Tetlenitsa in traditional clothing and holding a war club, Ottawa, Ontario
Chief Scotty, © CMC/MCC, J.A. Teit,

Chief Scotty Flash Version

Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) Chief Scotty wearing an old style doeskin poncho and an eagle feather bonnet, Spences Bridge, British Columbia

To view the rest of the Teit photographic collection click here.

Bibliography · Links · Credits · Index