Sat May 8 detailed schedule

Mungo Martin and Wilson Duff: Colleagues

Abstract

When Wilson Duff became Provincial Anthropologist in 1950 at the age of twenty five he was fresh, green and finding his way. Yet he had the wisdom to bring artist and elder, Mungo Martin, to the Provincial Museum as a colleague. Mungo and Wilson worked together to create a record of Northwest Coast, particularly Kwakwaka’wakw, culture. With Wilson’s support, Mungo Martin led the totem pole carving and house-building project at Thunderbird Park. The opening of Mungo Martin’s house was a major cultural event. He also provided hours of songs and stories for the Museum collection. The two worked and socialised together and developed a relationship based on mutual respect. It was a collegial partnership that was ahead of its time. It was also forgotten, as decades later, others who developed such partnerships in other museums announced them as bold new initiatives.

Presenter(s)

Robin Fisher

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