Not only did our friends Rebekah and Gael Audic recommend a visit to the Museum of Anthropology, MOA, but my patron Patricia Bell did too. If I had time to visit one museum it should be this one. Well, I was lucky and finished my work early on my last day in Vancouver, which meant I could go. Sweet Georgia Yarns founder Felicia Lo offered not only to take me there, but to join me too and that made it even more special! Above you see Felicia walking to the entrance of the impressive building.

The museum is part of the University of British Columbia Vancouver and displays world arts and cultures, in particular works by First Nations of the Pacific Northwest. MOA’s iconic building was designed by the Canadian architect, Arthur Erickson (1924–2009). “For more than 40 years, the Museum of Anthropology has been one of Canada’s best-known buildings internationally, and its Great Hall one of Vancouver’s most iconic spaces,” says MOA Director Sue Rowley.“ 

Above is a photo of the Great Hall, where many totem poles were exhibited.

The most famous room was the Bill Reid Rotunda, placed upon a gun turret left over from Vancouver’s dubious defence effort of World War II, is the sculpture “The Raven and the First Men” made out of a very large block of yellow cedar by Bill Reid, commissioned by Walter Koerner, the major benefactor of the Northwest Coast collection. The sculpture was unveiled in 1980.

Here is a closer look from one of the sides. See the photos and read “From Conception to Completion”.

Interior House boards from a house at Quamichan, around 1890, carved from a single plank of red cedar. These boards displayed family knowledge and provided protection to the residents.

The museums textile collection was equally impressive. Here is a Button Blanket: “Button blankets have become one of the most respected and essential elements of First Nations ceremonial regalia on the Northwest Coast. Originally made from foreign materials acquired through the Hudson’s Bay Company, button blankets became a new version of ancient woven and fur robes. They continue to be made today with great creativity and pride, and are worn at community gatherings as well as public celebrations, political protest, and to show chiefly authority at legal challenges.”

I was also taken back by all the masks on display. These are masks of the supernatural man-eating birds.

Take a look at these headdresses.

“Nuxalk Strong. Dancing Down the Eyelashes of the Sun” is the world’s first-ever dedicated exhibition of the Nuxalk Nation in the O’Brian Gallery and it is on until January 4th 2026.

I was fascinated to see a photo of the masks in use.

Outside at the back the exhibition continues.

Just to show you the scale of this totem pole, here I am captured by Felicia.

I captured Felicia too. Thank you for the recommendation! The museum was astonishing and I can only pass it on; Do not miss visiting MOA when in Vancouver…