Extinct BC Dog Breeds - Salish Wool Dog and Tahltan Bear Dog

This video explores two British Columbia Dog breeds the Salish Wool Dog and Tahltan Bear Dog, that are now extinct. We look into how they were important to the First Nations people, the role they played in their society, and what led them to their demise.
#BritishColumbiaDogs #SalishWoolDog #TahltanBearDog

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🎬 Timeline:
0:00 Introduction
0:56 Salish Wool Dog
4:33 Tahltan Bear Dog

🎞Media:
A portrait of two First Nations girls holding a Salish Woolly dog. Photograph was taken by James O. Booen, Chilliwack, BC’s first professional photographer (c. 1895-1897).
(courtesy of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives, Booen Fonds, P. Coll 120 No. 25.)

Side view of a 14 year old dog - Source: Ian McTaggart-Cowan fonds, UVIC. 1946

Mary Adams and her dog Jumbo - Source: Suquamish Museum archives

John David Kelly's 1900-ish painting commemorating Captain George Vancouver's 1792 exploration of BC's coast 

“Mongrel pup of ” woolly -haired” dog - Source: Ian McTaggart-Cowan fonds,

Salish Blanket ca. 1838-1842, containing a mixture of goat and woolly dog hair, from the Lushootseed speaking people of Puget Sound.  National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institute, catalogue no. E2124.

Video about the Capilano blanket -Source: Diamondhead Films ~ Commercial Projects

Pioneer at Fort Garry 1861”, oil on canvas by Adam Sherriff Scott assisted by E.T. Adney, 1925. Detail from large mural formerly installed in the Winnipeg Hudson’s Bay Company downtown store depicting First Nations, Métis and settlers wearing blankets and engaged in trade. (Reproduced with permission of Hudson’s Bay Company)

A Tahltan bear dog at rest in Telegraph Creek, British Columbia, 1915.  (photo by James A. Teit, courtesy Canadian Museum of History/33107)

Mary Jackson and Charley Quash, of the Tahltan Nation, with a Tahltan bear dog in Telegraph Creek, British Columbia, 1915. (photo by James A. Teit, courtesy Canadian Museum of History/33106)

"Nanaook Edzerza Marten Trapping Party" 1926; Photo: BC Archives

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[LeilahT]

Thanks, this was lovely and had some woolly dog pics I hadn’t seen before! There’s a bit of a different ending for them than is usually told.

Unfortunately, the reason these dogs are extinct is a familiar one. The dogs were taken by the RCMP from the towns, and 😮tied to posts on the beach… where they shot them. There were a few who were missed, but not enough. If you get a chance, Senaqwila Wyss’ work on the subject is excellent!

[Thorkenn]

Wowww amazing. Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[TheCountryCollectors]

So amazing! What cute Dog! This is a fun one for sure and I love all the history and info that you give as well as the historical photos! I can’t believe they used the dogs for their pelts! Unbelievable! Vancouver has so much history and beauty thank you for sharing it with us!

[SSquidFishh]

I found this video while i was trying to find some info on woollys! Apparently my puppy’s uncle had a very small trace of wooly in him, which means that he might have some dna too! This video was really helpful for finding out some information, thank you for making this!

[StepsbyKaatje]

I always feel sad when dogs disappear like that! 😕 Your video was great as always and very interesting! 😁👍 All the best!

[leoscotiatravels]

Wow! I had no idea about this history. I found the info about the Tahltan Bear Dog particularly interesting and how First Nations would use them to help with hunting. Fascinating and something you don't learn about very often.

[AdventuresOfATravelingDon]

A very unique part of history. Thank you for sharing that. The dogs are beautiful. Sad they got used for pelts at one time. Although there are still parts of the World where dogs are food sadly. Beautiful exposition. Very well done.

[VanlifeMidlifeRocks]

Never hear of the Salish Wool Dog - so interesting! And beautiful blankets made from their fur. Sad that this piece of Indigenous culture is lost.

[natepeirson]

The tahltan bear dog is not extinct!! We had a couple within our family, as of 3 years ago our last one “Lucy” passed away but a couple years before she passed away she had a litter of puppies which we gave away to family members (edit): this was way longer ago than I thought 2011 to be exact, only 2 are still alive out of 6 😢

[moniquepat]

It's hard to
listen to a person talk about Natives used the wool from sheep because it was easier. It's not true back in 1876- 1956 First Nations weaving and arts were outlawed, they would be fined, jailed or harmed/ killed for practicing old ways. The police & the military took the dogs from our Elders they were never seen again the Elders told us they do not know what the police-military did with the dogs 😢 they were a victim of genocide, & them wanting to assimilate First Nations from the old ways that made us stronger.