The museum also houses the Rotunda which features Bill Reid’s acclaimed sculpture, The Raven and the First Men. This sculpture depicts a moment in the ancestral past of the Haida people when Raven, a wise and powerful yet mischievous trickster, has just found the first humans in a clam shell on the beach, and is coaxing them out of it:

Over the years I had seen many photos and read several articles of this sculpture so seeing it first-hand was a great thrill. I walked around it several times, something that is hard to do with photos. I hope I was able to give a good 360 degree view above.

Outside of the museum is the Haida House complex which includes structures that would have been present in a nineteenth century Haida village. Constructed in 1962, this complex includes a large family dwelling and a smaller mortuary house similar to those used traditionally to hold the dead.

In front of the houses are examples of memorial and mortuary poles dating from 1951 to the present. Haida artist Bill Reid and ‘Namgis artist Doug Cranmer oversaw the construction of the houses, and carved several of the adjacent poles. Other poles on display were carved by Jim Hart (Haida), Chief Walter and Rodney Harris (Gitxsan), and Mungo Martin (Kwakwaka’wakw). Framing the path to the complex are two massive houseboards carved by Musqueam artist Susan Point in 1997.

Although the museum experienced a break-in only days earlier where 15 pieces of Bill Reid and Mexican gold art were stolen it was business as usual on the day of my visit. The only tell tale sign of this unfortunate incident was a display that was blocked off. At the time of writing 13 of the 15 pieces had been recovered.

Whether you are a woodcarver, a history buff, someone with in an interest in Pacific North Coast art or just someone who wants to spend a great couple of hours, adding MOA to your visit list when in Vancouver is certainly worthwhile.

You can find more information on the Museum Of Anthropology here.

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