Senaqwila Wyss on the Salish Woolly Dog (Part 1 of 6)
Published 2022-02-22
Recorded during the summer of 2021, Senaqwila’s six-part #WoolyWednesday series will highlight Salish perspectives and demystify colonial narratives, bringing forth the beautiful relationship the Salish nations had with their Salish Woolly Dogs.
The decline and eventual extinction of the Salish woolly dogs was the direct result of colonialism. Narratives in various academic and online sources claim that the Salish Woolly Dogs were bred into other breeds, and that the Salish people “gave up” on the dogs. Senaqwila Wyss, however, challenges these assumptions, arguing that the direct impacts of colonization, including the coinciding timelines of residential schools, the potlatch ban, and Government of Canada’s genocidal policies, were all contributing factors leading up to the extinction of the Salish woolly dog.
Learn more at monova.ca/senaqwila-wyss-on-the-salish-woolly-dogs…
All Comments (12)
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That was great. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with me. I am looking forward to hearing, seeing and reading more from you.
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Beautiful. Thank you. Maybe you can substitute Pomeranians now.
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Have 2 - 6 been uploaded? I’d like to watch them.
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This discussion and beginning of a series is so fascinating! I am so grateful that you are sharing this with the world, because like you say, the perspectives of the people who actually lived, their experiences have been doubted and misconstrued in so many ways, through colonial history. You are helping to set the record straight with your words and your stories and your factual data. Thank you so much for sharing; I am really looking forward to the continuation of this series. Much respect. ❤
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Senaqwila, I am European settler living and teaching on Lekwungen speaking territory. I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your video and your words! I am deconstructing and trying to reconstruct a unit on genetics and am incorporating the Woolly Dog. You clearly articulate the "curriculum of dominance" in your video, and I will use your video in my classroom to tell the truth and deconstruct the "reasons" provided by the colonial narrative as to why the Woolly Dog became extinct. I can't wait to hear more from you. Thank you for speaking your truth!
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I always wondered if the dog could ever be brought back by re breeding it from related indigenous breeds, or at least a similar breed be created as a close substitute because the original is gone. In Hawai'i this has happened to us but our dog was a good source as beef lamb and other livestock just wasn't available. The fur was used for textile. It would be so beautiful to see our extinct breeds be revived and the original crafts be also revived in their original forms without the influence of western sensitivities and fragilities. All i do know is that the wool must have been warm and so cozy! I live in Washington and i would love to see it for you all! Cheers!
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Would really to see the remaining episodes promised for this series! 🌼
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Looking forward to parts 2-6!
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Loved this presentation as a fiber artist and working dog enthusiast. I had only recently heard of this dog. Thank you for your amazing work as a historian and in public education!
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Where are the other five videos?
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Thanks so much for uploading this! I was able to make some of the classes and they were excellent.
