Haida Gwaii

 More today inside the Grand Hall in the Canadian Museum of History.

Outside is a sculpture, and at this time of year, the pool around it is filled with water, reflecting the river in the background. This is 'namaxsala (To Travel In A Boat Together), a 2013 sculpture by Mary Lynn Barkhouse, based on a story by her grandfather of his giving a wolf a ride across treacherous waters.

This panel explains the significance of totem poles.

More of a look around.

This huge canoe is nearby.

Here we have one of three versions of the same sculpture. The Spirit of Haida Gwaii is by the Haida artist Bill Reid. This is the plaster cast of the sculpture- bronze versions can be found at the Canadian embassy in Washington and at the airport in Vancouver.

A Grand Hall

The Grand Hall is a majestic space within the Canadian Museum of History. Totem poles are found here, and the facades of Pacific Coast tribal homes have been erected in this place. Behind the facades is exhibit space. 

I stepped inside.

The windows offer views out to the river and the Ottawa shoreline beyond.

 

Sport History

 There are times when sports becomes influenced by the world around it.

Never was that more obvious than in the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in Berlin as a showcase for the Nazis.

This is one of the Olympic torches of that era.

The Edmonton Grads were a women's basketball team. Items displayed include a jersey and a compact awarded to one of the players.

Also displayed at lower right is a buffalo necklace belonging to Irene Crowchild, a Dene golfer.

I wouldn't call UFC a sport, but this panel looks at Canadian Georges St-Pierre, who was a champion, and who has spoken openly about his own mental health. Displayed is his belt.

Here we have a reproduction version of the bobsled that took a Canadian team to winning gold in 1964- despite having had never competed in the sport before.

Team Canada

Leaving the special exhibit, I came back into the long corridor that runs above the Grand Hall. At present, a number of items from the Canadian Sports Hall Of Fame are on display here. This Olympic parka from 1972 was sewn by one of twelve women in Iqaluit for the Canadian team at the Winter Olympics that year.

This ski suit belonged to Jean-Luc Brassard, who represented the country in mogul skiing in the 1990s.

Wheelchair racing gloves are seen here. They were used by Brent Lakatos in competition.

A soccer jersey belongs to Charmaine Hooper of the Canadian women's team.

And these hockey skates are from Jarome Inglina, who has won Olympic gold for the country, and played in the NHL.

This racing bike is from Clara Hughes, who has won medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

Emergent Royalty

 I begin today with items of warriors of the Iron Age- warriors who now served as opposed to led, as their benefactors were the emerging royals.

This feast set belonged to a Thracian king, Kotys I. 

Much of what we know of Thrace is through the lens of their enemies- the Greeks and Romans, who characterized them as barbarians.

Prize artifacts in this display case- a golden wreath, a collar, and a signet ring.

I close out this exhibit with one more display case of treasures found in the burial place of a Thracian royal.