Woolly dog pelt returns to Coast Salish territory for the first time

The only remaining pelt of the once-common woolly dog, which once thrived in the Chilliwack area inhabited by the Stó:lō people, has returned to its homeland in British Columbia after being stored at the Smithsonian Institution for over 160 years. Jordan Wilson, curator of Pacific Northwest and Contemporary Indigenous Art at the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology and member of the Musqueam nation, explained that the breed was deliberately bred by Coast Salish, Interior Salish, and Makah people for their fur, which was utilized in weaving.

The fur was meticulously sheared, spun, and transformed into blankets and clothing by women to generate income for their families.

Wilson emphasized that the woolly dog breed was nearly eradicated due to the impacts of settler colonialism. The pelt's return to British Columbia is a significant opportunity for the museum to share the woolly dog's story with a wider audience before the pelt goes on public display. Prior to its exhibition, local Coast Salish communities and weavers had the chance to interact with the pelt, which evoked strong emotions due to its delicate features.

The woolly dog, affectionately known as Mutton, served as the companion of naturalist George Gibbs but the circumstances of his acquisition remain a mystery. Research indicates that Mutton lived for approximately one and a half years and was shorn at least once before his demise. The pelt will be on loan from the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History and will be on display at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC from September 2026 to August 2027.