Returning from a Qagyuhl Wedding (c. 1914)
The Qagyuhl people of the Pacific Northwest settled along the Pacific coastal areas from what is today British Columbia to the southern sections of Alaska. Qagyuhl people are a subsection of the Kwakiutl nation, sustaining themselves through fishing. The boat in this photo shows their woodworking skills. They crafted the wood into the distinct Pacific Northwest art style of stylized animals that symbolize their families.
This photo, taken by Edward S. Curtis to document Native American nations, shows the moments after a Qagyuhl wedding. The wedding party returning to the groom’s village after the wedding ceremony. At the stern of one canoe, the newlyweds occupy the “bride’s seat” while relatives dance and sing. The men rowing the boat use the handles of the paddles to create a drum-like beat against the side of the boat.
