Artifact of the Month: January 2020

"Wil Uks T'aa Medik" (Cape Chacon)

Beaded octopus or "devilfish" bags, named for their eight tentacle-like arms, are dance regalia that both men and women wear. A seaweed harvest inspired Tsimshian artist Kandi McGilton (Mangyepsa Gyipaayg) to create this bag. It is named "Wil Uks T'aa Medik," Tsimshian for Cape Chacon, which is located on the southern tip of Prince of Wales Island across Clarence Strait from Annette Island. The area is used for harvesting seaweed and other subsistence foods like herring eggs and mussels. This bag is made of purple wool blend and batik cloth, with black, gold, and white beading that creates a seaweed design. Speaking about the color scheme Kandi said, "On the Pacific Northwest Coast seaweed is called black gold, which immediately made me compare it to the European ideals of being rich and the compared values between our peoples. Purple was the color of royalty because it was a hard color to dye." The bag was used as a teaching tool during Kandi's 2017 devilfish bag making class with high school students in the Annette Island School District.

Growing up in Metlakatla during a time of cultural resurgence has influenced Kandi's pursuit and preservation of traditional activities. She is co-founder and secretary-treasurer of the Haayk Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the Tsimshian language, history, and traditions of the people of Annette Island. Kandi also co-leads the Gitlaxlikst'aa, Metlakatla's original Tsimshian dance group. In 2017, the Rasmuson Foundation recognized Kandi as an emerging Alaskan artist with an Individual Artist Award to pursue a weaving apprenticeship with Delores Churchill.

Through the generous support of the Rasmuson Foundation's Art Acquisition Fund, Ketchikan Museums was able to purchase this month's featured artifact and it is currently on display at the Totem Heritage Center.

Ketchikan Museums, KM 2018.2.7.1