From August 2026 to September 2027, UBC’s Museum of Anthropology will display the last recorded woolly dog pelt. The News reported that this pelt had been safely stored away since going to the Smithsonian Institution in the 19th century. More than 100 years later, the pelt is being housed close to its birthplace. The pelt was loaned out at the request of Stó:l? Elders, knowledge keepers, and community members due to their close bond with it.
UBC News explained the significance of the woolly dog’s presence in the lives of local Indigenous people.
“Woolly dogs were specially bred by Salish and Makah peoples for their soft, woolly hair, which was woven into blankets, robes and clothing.”
Jordan Wilson, curator of Pacific Northwest and Contemporary Indigenous Art, commented on how the woolly dog remains an enduring part of Indigenous cultures.
“It speaks to a species’ extinction, which is just one of many profound impacts of settler colonialism. That’s something that cannot be undone. But it also speaks to the lives of our ancestors, their relationship with the more-than-human world, and their teachings and knowledge that continue to be passed forward.”
UBC News reported that local Coast Salish communities can view the pelt before it officially goes on display.
