Many don't know about the enigmatic Coast Salish woolly dog, otherwise known as sqʷəmey̓ in the Hul'q'umi'num language. Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa, a researcher of Coast Salish spinning collaborated with local Coast Salish contributors for the book The Teachings of Mutton: A Coast Salish Woolly Dog which is currently ranked number three on the BC Best Seller's list.
The only confirmed woolly dog specimen is 'Mutton', whose pelt has been housed in the Smithsonian’s collection since his death in 1859. According to Indigenous Oral Histories of the Pacific Northwest, the small dog was bred for thousands of years for its woolly fibres, which were woven into traditional blankets, robes and regalia. For many generations the woolly dogs were carefully protected by Coast Salish peoples but by the 1900s, the breed had had become so rare, it was considered extinct. Hammond-Kaarremaa interviews individuals who shared their own personal stories, and those of their ancestors regarding the woolly dogs. Through these Salishan co-authors, and Knowledge Keepers, Mutton has been brought into the present bringing a new and unique perspective on the complex history of the small woolly dogs.
“Mutton may have lived more than 160 years ago, but he’s still teaching us about woolly dogs and the significance of fibres and textiles in Coast Salish culture, as well as the deep understanding Indigenous people had of husbandry," said Hammond-Kaarremaa in a press release.
"It bothered me that there was doubt about the existence of the woolly dog despite Coast Salish Oral Histories of early explorers writing about them, and blankets collected in the early 1800s described as containing dog wool. I thought the story of Mutton, and woolly dogs would be a good way of opening eyes, hearts and minds to a deeper and fuller understanding of our shared history."
Mutton's story is significantly different from that of other woolly dogs, he was owned by an American Euro-centric ethnographer, lived off a European diet, and was not used for wool. His ancient DNA however tells another story, one of his ancestry and deliberate breeding over thousands of years which indicated a particular management to bring out unique wool-like characteristics in his hair while keeping the breed separated from both village dogs and hunting dogs over millennia, otherwise those valued characteristics would have disappeared. The knowledge required at that time to do this, coupled with an unwavering husbandry practice just in itself testifies the once cultural importance of woolly dogs. Mutton’s pelt has travel plans to embark on a regional museum tour of the Pacific Northwest, offering Coast Salish people opportunities to hold ceremonies, in addition a companion documentary will be completed later this year and screened at select venues, with Hammond-Kaarremaa in attendance.
“The story doesn’t end here, I believe Mutton has opened up new doors,” said Hammond-Kaarremaa. “I was motivated by knowing the information was not mine to keep but to share and could potentially contribute towards reconciliation.”
Co-authors of The Teachings of Mutton: A Coast Salish Woolly Dog from the Cowichan area include local weaver of 29 years Tsumi'tsiye Violet Eliot, Tyrone Elliott, as well as Salish educator Jared “Qwustenuxun” Williams.
Volume One Books will be hosting a free event at the Cowichan Library in Duncan on June 23 at 6:30 p.m. Tsumi'tsiye Violet Eliot who is from Snuneymuxw Nation and comes from a long line of weavers will be joining Hammond-Kaarremaa on the panel for more discussion on the book that was released last month — copies will be available to purchase.
"It's great to be able to host this event near to the date of National Indigenous Peoples Day," said Melanie Watson of Volume One Books.
"To say I am ecstatic to be a part of this book is an understatement," said Eliot. "We get to bring back life in to our cherished wooly dog, and we get to educate the wooly dog's purpose in our lives. I believe this is only the beginning of our talks on Wooly Dog."
University of Victoria Distinguished Professor Emerita Nancy J Turner calls the The Teachings of Mutton a compelling story which both reflects both a way of life, and practical knowledge as it gives a unique perspective on the complex history or our region, and on the true meaning of Truth and Reconciliation. She calls it a must read for anyone yearning to know more about weaving arts, dog breeds, and Indigenous history and cultures in northwestern North America
"I hope readers will embed the idea of the importance of cultures to help understand different ways of being and thinking, to become less one dimensional, and more open to two-eyed approaches," said Hammond-Kaarremaa. "Mutton lay forgotten in a drawer for 160 years but his story will help reawaken more stories, histories and cultural practices in Indigenous communities. If we don’t preserve and support Indigenous histories, languages and cultural practices, we risk losing knowledge of history. It might not be my history, language or culture, but it is knowledge that all might benefit from in the future."
