Activating the Art Collection at the Museum of Anthropology

Students in UBC ANTH431: Museum Practice and Curatorship

by: Mina Guan, YCW Collections and Programming Intern

The University Art Collections is pleased to loan “Split Raven Scarf” by Kwakwaka’wakw artist, Ḵaḵaso’las-Ellen Neel (née Newman) (1916-1966) to the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) for the upcoming exhibition We Come from Great Wealth: Ḵaḵaso’las-Ellen Neel and the Totem Carvers, at the University of British Columbia (UBC). This is one of the 19,000 artworks in the University Art Collections, a resource for teaching, research, and exhibitions.

The exhibition, which explores the life, art, and influence of Ḵaḵaso’las-Ellen Neel, is organized in collaboration with Lou-ann Neel, Neel’s granddaughter, and is curated by students in the UBC course, ANTH431: Museum Practice and Curatorship, instructed by Dr. Susan Rowley, MOA Director.

Ḵaḵaso’las-Ellen Neel learned to carve from her grandfather, master carver Yakuglas Charlie James. In the mid 1950s, she opened her own carving business and retail shop “The Totem Arts Shop” in Stanley Park. “Split Raven Scarf,” which features a monochromatic raven design, is an example of the artwork she created for sale during this time. Ḵaḵaso’las-Ellen Neel was among the first Indigenous Northwest Coast artists to silkscreen her designs onto scarves.

“Split Raven Scarf” by Ḵaḵaso’las-Ellen Neel, 1950s

The scarf was purchased by the University Art Collections from the collection of Vincent Rickard with the Canada Council for the Arts Acquisition Grant. It was last exhibited at the Legacy Art Gallery Downtown in 2017 for Ellen Neel: The First Woman Totem Pole Carver, curated by Dr. Carolyn Butler Palmer with advising curators Lou-ann Neel and David Neel.

Ḵaḵaso’las-Ellen Neel’s inventive practice is central to the upcoming exhibition. Dr. Rowley and the students share that “the life story that produced Ellen Neel’s art is an act of intertwining Indigenous tradition and innovation that demonstrates survivance and resurgence.” The students add, “[a]s a political leader advocate, and knowledge-keeper, she left an impact on the world and the city of Vancouver, which can still be seen today.”

The scarf from University Art Collections will be exhibited alongside other artworks which celebrate Ḵaḵaso’las—Ellen Neel’s legacy, including the Kakaso’las pole, which returned to the MOA from Stanley Park last September at the Neel family’s request. The students are “honoured and grateful to be working with the Neel Family to do justice to the life of Ḵaḵaso’las-Ellen Neel.”

See “Split Raven Scarf” and other incredible artworks at We Come from Great Wealth: Ḵaḵaso’las-Ellen Neel and the Totem Carvers, May 15 to October 12, 2025, at the MOA. An opening ceremony will be held on May 25.