Florence Davidson
Encyclopedia
Florence Edenshaw Davidson (1896–1993) was a Canadian
First Nations
artist from the Haida nation who created traditional basketry and button-blankets and was also a respected elder in her First Nations community, the Haida village of Masset
, Queen Charlotte Islands
, British Columbia
.
She was born in Masset on September 15, 1896, the daughter of the Haida artist Charles Edenshaw
(Chief Idɨnsaw) and his wife Isabella (K'woiyəng). She was given the Haida name Jadał q'egəngá ("Story Maid"). She assisted her mother in sewing button blanket
s when she was a child. She was renowned for her blankets and for sewing baskets of spruceroot and cedar bark.
She was of the Raven moiety, of the Y'akwə'lanas lineage, and of the Shark House (Q'ad Nas), with crests that included Shark, Two-Finned Killerwhale, and Brown Bear.
She married Robert Davidson (1880–1969), a Haida, on February 23, 1911, and had thirteen children.
In the 1960s she was consultant on Haida culture and Masset history to the writer Christie Harris
, author of Raven's Cry.
She became well known through her collaborative autobiography written with the anthropologist Margaret B. Blackman
, published in 1982.
She died December 13, 1993.
Florence's grandsons include the artists Reg Davidson
and Robert Davidson
, who are brothers.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
artist from the Haida nation who created traditional basketry and button-blankets and was also a respected elder in her First Nations community, the Haida village of Masset
Masset, British Columbia
Masset , formerly Massett, is a village in Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the northern coast of Graham Island, the largest island in the archipelago, and is approximately west of mainland British Columbia. It is the western terminus of the Yellowhead Highway...
, Queen Charlotte Islands
Queen Charlotte Islands
Haida Gwaii , formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, is an archipelago on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Haida Gwaii consists of two main islands: Graham Island in the north, and Moresby Island in the south, along with approximately 150 smaller islands with a total landmass of...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
She was born in Masset on September 15, 1896, the daughter of the Haida artist Charles Edenshaw
Charles Edenshaw
Charles Edenshaw was a Haida artist from Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. He is known for his woodcarving, argillite carving, jewellery, and painting.-Background:...
(Chief Idɨnsaw) and his wife Isabella (K'woiyəng). She was given the Haida name Jadał q'egəngá ("Story Maid"). She assisted her mother in sewing button blanket
Button Blanket
A button blanket is wool wearing blanket embellished with mother-of-pearl buttons, created by Northwest Coastal tribes.Rather than sleeping equipment, the blankets are used as capes and gifts at ceremonial dances and potlatches....
s when she was a child. She was renowned for her blankets and for sewing baskets of spruceroot and cedar bark.
She was of the Raven moiety, of the Y'akwə'lanas lineage, and of the Shark House (Q'ad Nas), with crests that included Shark, Two-Finned Killerwhale, and Brown Bear.
She married Robert Davidson (1880–1969), a Haida, on February 23, 1911, and had thirteen children.
In the 1960s she was consultant on Haida culture and Masset history to the writer Christie Harris
Christie Harris
Christie Lucy Harris, CM was a Canadian children's author. She is best known for her portrayal of Haida First Nations culture in the 1966 novel Raven's Cry....
, author of Raven's Cry.
She became well known through her collaborative autobiography written with the anthropologist Margaret B. Blackman
Margaret B. Blackman
Margaret B. Blackman is an anthropologist known for her work with the Haida First Nation of the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia, Canada, beginning in the 1970s....
, published in 1982.
She died December 13, 1993.
Florence's grandsons include the artists Reg Davidson
Reg Davidson
Reg Davidson is a Canadian First Nations carver and a member of the Haida nation.He was born in 1954 at the Haida village of Masset on the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia. His parents are Claude and Vivian Davidson and, through Claude, he is the grandson of the Haida artist and...
and Robert Davidson
Robert Davidson (artist)
Robert Charles Davidson, CM, OBC , is a Canadian artist of Haida heritage. His specialties are in carving , sculpture and painting....
, who are brothers.
Sources
- Blackman, Margaret B. (1982; rev. ed., 1992) During My Time: Florence Edenshaw Davidson, a Haida Woman. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
- Harris, Christie (1966) Raven's Cry. New York: Atheneum. (Revised edition, Vancouver, Douglas & McIntyre, 1992.)
- Jensen, Doreen, and Polly Sargent (1986) Robes of Power: Totem Poles on Cloth. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.
- Macnair, Peter L., Alan L. Hoover, and Kevin Neary (1984) The Legacy: Tradition and Innovation in Northwest Coast Indian Art. Vancouver, B.C.: Douglas & McIntyre.