No longer extant, the coastline has vanished Salish Woolly Dog returns to life within the pages of a new book titled: The Teachings of Mutton: A Coast Salish Woolly Dog.
Abundant in tales from Musqueam, Squamish, Stó:lō, Suquamish, Cowichan In the Katzie, Snuneymuxw, and Skokomish cultures, the book emphasizes the tale of the animal Whose coats were utilized by Indigenous artisans to create blankets and other textile products?
The book, co-written by Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa alongside weavers, knowledge keepers, and elders, is set for release on May 25. On June 4 at 7 p.m., Hammond-Kaarremaa—alongside several Coast Salish contributors featured in the volume—will host readings at the VPL Central Branch. Additionally, an event will take place at the Museum of Anthropology on June 5 at 7 p.m.
5 key points about renowned albino canines:
Who was the Coast Salish Woolly Dog?
The Coast Salish Woolly Dog, known as sqʷəmey̓ in the Hul'q'umi'num language—a traditional Coast Salish tongue—was a small-to medium-sized canine selectively bred for its wooly fur. This fleece was highly valued by indigenous weavers who crafted it into traditional blankets, robes, and ceremonial garments. These distinctive canines were widespread across British Columbia but primarily inhabited Vancouver Island and the Puget Sound region in Washington State.
How far back does the history of the Coast Salish Woolly Dog date?
In the realm of science, it is stated that dogs were actually bred here prior to European contact in this region. The most ancient remnants of the Coast Salish Woolly Dog have been discovered in areas like Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia, dating back approximately 4,000 years.
Who is Mutton?
In the year 2000, a dog’s hide was found inside a drawer at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. It turned out this hide belonged to a Coast Salish Woolly Dog named Mutton, which had been gifted to the museum back in 1859 by ethnographer George Gibbs. Gibbs acquired the specimen during his work on the Northwest Boundary Survey expedition (1857–61), whose mission included mapping the territory separating British Columbia from the United States.
Which contemporary breed looks similar to the Coast Salish Woolly Dog?
The Coast Salish Woolly Dog would have most resembled the modern-day Spitz breed. The two share a small-to-medium build, with thick ivory-white hair, pointed ears and a curly tail.
What happened to the breed?
The colonization process led to a decrease in the dog population during the 1800s, with their numbers dwindling almost completely by the early 20th century. The straightforward reason for this decline was that upon colonization, sheep wool blankets were brought in, rendering the woolly dogs obsolete.
However, experts also indicate that the well-being of the dog custodians contributed to their demise as issues such as diseases, cultural disruptions, and displacements severely impacted Indigenous communities.
