Speaker’s staff

Artist: Chuck Heit, Gitxsan, Kispaiox, Britsh Columbia

Culture/People: Gitxsan

Place: British Columbia

Media: Wood

Dims: 35 x 1.5 in.

Date: 1977; Gift of the artist

Description: When we opened the Sacred Circles exhibition in Kansas City (1977), this ‘talking stick’ was a gift to me from the Gitxsan carving group in Hazelton, BC. Around twenty Gitxsan dignitaries performed an opening for the exhibition, at the end of which they passed this speakers’ staff to me…I hope it is remembered as an educational scepter modestly presiding over a museum’s seminal display to the greater glory of American Indian art.” – Ted Coe

RTC No: NA0199
Gift of Ralph T. Coe, 2011