Small woven basket is round, sides flaring slightly toward the inset rim. Design woven into sides is of a fishing boat with three figures harpooning a whale (possibly an orca). Lid is round with short sides that fit snugly onto the basket’s rim. It is decorated with an encircling ring around the rim, and an orange and green flower pattern at top centre. The basket’s coloured designs are very faded on the outside, but bright on the interior.

Basketry covered abalone shell. Large abalone shell is iridescent on the interior, with 4 perforations in the bottom under the rim. It is fully covered on the exterior by a piece of tightly woven basketry that closely takes its shape, and fits around the shell’s rim. Images of whales and birds, and concentric lines on rim and at bottom centre are woven into the basketry.

Basketry covered abalone shell. Large abalone shell (part b) is rough on the outside, smooth and iridescent on the inside, with 5 perforations in the bottom under the rim. It is fully covered on the exterior by a piece of tightly woven basketry (part a) that closely takes its shape. Images woven into the basketry include Canadian Plains style headdresses, ducks, and fish. The interior of the basket has many long end remnants resulting from the weaving process.

Basketry covered glass float. Round float is completely covered in finely woven basketry, with a round woven foot of cedar root. Images in the weave are created with dyed grass and include a green pinwheel on top, large two-footed creatures below, the words “Estevan Point 1943” at midpoint, with several floating ducks at bottom.

Basketry covered glass float. Round float is completely covered in finely woven basketry, with a flat base. Images in the weave are created with dyed grass and include concentric circles at top, a line of text lower down saying “Estevan Point BC March 1947”, large birds with wings spread interspersed with the outline of a mask and a small boat with three figures inside. Base also has a set of concentric circles.

Oval-shaped woven basket (a) with a flat, fitted lid (b). Figures in green around centre portion of basket. Lid: one line of purple along rim; centre oval is orange with green swirl surrounding. Base: plaited origin; plain twined (over wide warp strands). Sides: twisted twined work. Slightly indented flange on basket.

Large fish hook in a ‘V’ shape, with a pointed bone barb lashed to the thicker arm, positioned inside the ‘V’, with wound cedar root. Lashed to the thinner arm at mid-point in a similar fashion is a short, twisted cord.

Cedar rope made of three twisted strands. One end is knotted. The rope lies in a coil with the ends wrapped around the coils to hold it together.

Cedar rope made of three twisted strands. The end is fastened with wound cotton string. The rope lies in a coil which is held together with a patterned strip of tied fabric.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.