Beaded Mat

Created by children of the Osoyoos Band who attended the Inkameep Day School, on the Nk'Mip Reserve, between 1932 and 1942. Unlike many residential school practices at that time, their teacher, Anthony Walsh, encouraged the students to create imagery that honoured their traditional Okanagan language and culture. Purchased for MOA through an online auction, which noted this collection (2951/1-6) as being "from the estate of Cliff Robinson's sister".

Round leather mat with a beaded image of a bird’s head in profile. The head is black with a black beak, white eye, and white cheek. Groups of green beads encircle the bird at the perimeter of the leather. The edge of the mat is cut into short, wide, irregular fringes. Visible on the back of the piece are knotted threads used to attach the beads to the front.