The sub-series consists of 41 sound disks recording Billy Assu’s performances of 86 songs and ceremonies of the Wiweḵa̕yi (Cape Mudge) peoples and other local First Nations communities. The Wiweḵa̕yi were one of four tribes known as the Cape Mudge Tribes or La̕a̱lg̱wiłda̕x̱w, the United Tribes of the Lig̱wiłda̕x̱w: ̕Walidza̱m (Salmon River), Wiweḵa̕yi (Cape Mudge), Wiweḵ̕a̱m (Campbell River), Kwix̱a (“Murderers,” Phillip’s Arm). Halpern recorded the performances at Assu’s home in Cape Mudge over a period of three days. Also included in the recording sessions at Assu’s home were two songs by Mary Wamis, a medicine woman from Cape Mudge. As leader of the Wiweḵa̕yi peoples Billy Assu was responsible to preserve and represent his people’s culture and tradition. In an oral society this is captured profoundly in song. Assu was the first Aboriginal Chief to commit to allowing Halpern record performances of indigenous songs and ceremonies. For several years Dr. Halpern campaigned diligently for the need to preserve the oral culture of the Kwakwa̱ka̱̕wakw and other local indigenous peoples. The intimacy and secrecy of many traditional songs made aboriginal leaders reluctant to perform them for public academic study. In a CBC interview with Philip Lamarche [Halpern fonds, CBC Radio Interview, T-4339-143], Halpern explained that Assu’s three sons were not interested in learning the complex songs and ceremonies of their father. Halpern convinced Chief Assu in order to preserve the songs, they should be recorded. Eventually, in 1947 Chief Billy Assu and his wife Mary invited Dr. Halpern to their Cape Mudge home for the purpose of recording some traditional songs. Dr. Halpen recorded 88 unique songs over two recording sessions held in January and June of 1947. The recordings were made onto 26 1x6.5 in., 1x7in., and 1x8 in. laminated discs. Halpern annotated the label of each disc with a song title transcribed from Chief Assu’s description and her own alpha numeric code. Most are also dated on the label of the original recording disk. Comparison can fix an approximate date for those recordings not labeled. The songs’ titles have been phonetically rendered from the original non-textual source. There have been several versions of each song reproduced over time. Single songs have been taken from recording sessions to create compilations. The recording sessions were informal with Billy Assu deciding on songs he wished to perform. Many of the recordings also include informal conversations between Assu and Halpern concerning the songs’ meanings, their performance and the Kwak̕wala language. The recordings are in roughly chronological order based on their creation. Halpern revisited the recordings for study and publication. She made transcriptions of the lyrics and wrote out the music in musical notation. She ordered and categorized the songs several times in her studies. In the published version of Assu’s songs she used four categories: totem poles and crests, potlatch songs, ceremonial songs, songs of everyday life. She explained in the Larmarche interview that most of the songs could be performed in the setting of a potlatch; most concerned the assignment of rights and identity in significant moments in a lifetime. Halpern noted that not only would she need to be an invited guest to hear the potlatches, they were banned under provincial law at the time she recorded Assu’s performances. Halpern noted that Assu was not always comfortable performing certain Hamatsa, Potlach and other songs because of their sacred and personal nature. However, he was convinced they were in danger of being lost and worth recording.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1968 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Chief Moon discusses Campbell River and the Quathiaski Cove Indian village [Cape Mudge]; preservation of the Indian culture; young people and their culture; fishing; and lack of opportunities for youth. Mr. Cornish, a non-Indian resident, recalls observing a dance in the village; he discusses the youth of the village and their culture; schooling; the Kwakiutl tribe; missionaries; and the role of the church in the village life. TRACK 2: Mr. Cornish continues with his discussion about the transition from traditional ways; the outlawing of the Potlatch; he describes Cape Mudge; prejudice; Indian culture; Indian youth; the loss of culture through the school system; and reserves.

Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's comments: "Hamatsa Song. Old song more than 60 years old for JIM CHIKAI, Chief La̕stulsa (Jim Chikite). He wants the man to eat." The Ha̱mt̕sala Na̱ḵax̱a̱la is the second song of the Cannibal Dance. A part of the Winter Ceremonies known in Kwak̕wala as T̕seka.

CALL NUMBER: T1345:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1967-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Isabel Sweeny (nee Bell-Irving) talks about her family's life in Vancouver after arriving in 1885, including: her father, who was an engineer for the CPR; his sketches of CPR construction; her parents' initial stay at Black's Hotel; life in Vancouver; their first house on Alexander Street, and their house on Seaton Street, later Hastings Street. She continues with descriptions of the family holly tree and tennis court; the West End; English Bay; Jericho Beach in the 1890s; the North Vancouver Indians; False Creek; Point Grey; Marpole House; Granville Street; and the family home at Harwood and Bute Streets. TRACK 2: Mrs. Sweeny continues with her recollections about early Vancouver, including moving the last Indian village in the Kitsilano area to Squamish; real estate development; Vancouver in the 1890s and 1900s; parties; social life; the Royal Navy; more family history; Victoria; early schools in Vancouver; childhood; family pets; development of the city; a fund-raising carnival for the hospital; Indians in Stanley Park; and local characters "Crazy George" and "Pacific Slope".

CALL NUMBER: T1345:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1967-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Sweeny talks about trips along the BC coast on the family boat, the "Beatrice"; Indian fishing on the northern rivers; the Johnson family; Princess Louisa Inlet and Thetis Island. She discusses the Gulf Islands; personalities; families; Campbell River; fishing stories; Cape Mudge and Alert Bay. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early commercial fishing in British Columbia, 1921-1945 : part 1 & 2 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-03-29 SUMMARY: James Templeton discusses aspects of commercial fishing in British Columbia, 1921 to 1945.;

CALL NUMBER: T1923:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-18 SUMMARY: Jens Heyerdahl, one of the first settlers of Willow Point, has lived in the area for over 50 years. TRACK 1: Born in Norway. Came to Canada following marital difficulties. Vancouver. First jobs at Loughborough Inlet, Seymour Bay, Cape Mudge; bookkeeping and logging; anecdotes about people in those places. Meets second wife at Willow Point. Her background. TRACK 2: Married 30 years until Mrs. Heyerdahl died in 1974. Ran oil stations on the coast, delivering oil to homes. The Depression. Willow Point. Guided for the Painter family. Anecdotes about local characters. B.C. and Norway compared. His travels.;

CALL NUMBER: T1923:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-18 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: More anecdotes about local people. The Depression. Cape Mudge incident. Local crimes. Christmas at April Point, Quadra Island, during the Depression. A visiting German count. TRACK 2: Dangerous local waters. Ripple Rock explosion. Progress in Campbell River. Wife's piano teaching. Norwegian stories. Friends. Anecdotes.;

PERIOD COVERED: ;1943;-;1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-04-11 SUMMARY: In an interview with Becky Thomas and Joan Adams, Margaret Lorenz discusses teaching in one room schools in British Columbia. Mrs. Lorenz taught in the following British Columbia communities: Cape Mudge, Trapp Lake, Lone Butte, and Pemberton Range.;

CALL NUMBER: T2341:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Towboating on the BC coast PERIOD COVERED: 1915-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-14 SUMMARY: TRACKS 1 & 2: Captain Mickey Balatti's family was among Vancouver's early settlers. Born in Ladysmith, he worked in the coal mines there and later joined the crew of a tug boat. Describes early diesel; tug boats, working log booms, Hastings Mill, "Brunette", accidents on the coast, navigation techniques, towing on the west coast of Vancouver Island, attempts to blow up Ripple Rock, towing around the Queen Charlotte Islands, difference between American and Canadian wages for towboat men.;

CALL NUMBER: T2341:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Towboating on the BC coast PERIOD COVERED: 1915-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-14 SUMMARY: TRACKS ! & 2: Mickey Balatti describes towing across Hecate Strait; the salvage of a grounded freighter on the Sand Heads; making up log booms at San Juan for Malahat Logging; Nitinat Lake; towing Davis rafts; tricks of towing through tidal currents; loading railcar barges; changes on the tugboats when diesel replaced steam; B.C. Pilotage.;

CALL NUMBER: T0811:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. "Sparky" New, involved in coastal shipping since he arrived in the 1920s, discusses the development of the Coast Ferries company from early freighting and passenger travel in the Gulf of Georgia, including the supplanting of the Union Steamship Company by scow, tug and airplane. Included in this discussion is the role of logging and mining in the coast economy and navigation problems in the Gulf. TRACK 2: Mr. New comments on fruit production and lumber mills in the Gulf. He describes his early experience working on ships, and eventually getting into the towing business in 1937. He praises the CP Steamship Company's coastal service when roads were non-existent. He compares CPR with the Union Steamship Company, and compares transportation in early decades with the present [the 1960s]. He tells the history of his first boat, "Brentwood".

CALL NUMBER: T0811:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. New tells the story of the loss of the "Petrel" and other ships and mentions hazards at places such as Cape Mudge, Fraser River mouth, and Bute Inlet. He describes the kind of work that coastal boating was in early years, and some major changes in the towing industry since then. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T1822:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sheep on Mitlenatch Island; mother from the Shetland Isles; how her father (George Manson) came to Cortes Island; Mr. Hughes of Comox and the mouse that drowned in milk; Cape Mudge and the Euclataw Indians trying to do battle; Michael Manson; dealing with belligerent Smelt Bay Indians; story of "Old Sick George"; birthdates of the Manson children; more on Mitlenatch and the sheep; Michael Manson buys Hernando Island; Canadian Navy wanted Mitlenatch for target practice in WWII; living on Mitlenatch; trips to Bute Inlet; John Manson's job as caretaker of timber claims; first school on Cortes Island --children brought from Knight Inlet to make up enough students; how the Manson wool was sold; story of father buying his first horse; the Sniders from Lund; Robertsons, Tieburs, Hagues, Hawkins, the canoe in the local museum; the school and Miss Bonas; Union Bay; taffy pulling; special occasions (Christmas, birthdays); music, religion, education; John Antle of the Columbia Coast Mission. Rose went to Vancouver in 1920 to work in telegraph office, then to St. Paul's for nurses training; religion and tough times; the 1920 tornado; Mr. Forrest the socialist. TRACK 2: CALL NUMBER: T1822:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mary Pepper, teacher in 1912; the sinking of the SS "Cheslakee" and Miss Pepper's tragic death; twin islands and Dan McDonald and his relations with Indians, and other stories; road building in 1909; H.H.C. Nixon, the minister, and his credentials, life and times; he bought the McDonald place; his jaw was shot off; his invention for cooking rock cod; his second son James A.; his first wife died; he joined the navy and later remarried; the St. Dennis family and their arrival by rowboat; how Bernard's wife Dorothy had Rose trick him into moving to Vancouver while Rose was in training at St. Paul's hospital in 1921; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allen; the "Titanic"; Heriot Bay storekeeper; cougars and Cougar Smith; Ervin McKay, father of Etta Byers; Mrs. Hanson; Douglas Forrest, Herbert Morrison; discussion of picnic photo; Marjory Nichols wedding in 1922; Petznick, O'Donnell, Elsie Morrison; Murray, Mrs. Jefferies; Betty Hayes; Etta and Haysee; the Campbell soup kids; Heaveners; Dorothy Macaulay who bought the Nixon's place; Alan Greene; 'Bud" the mentally deficient lad she cared for; do's and don'ts of loading hay; Bert Frowde, his life and times; Bess Ashby; teacher and gardener Miss Lettice; Veronica Teiber, Mabel Hawkins, Wilena Smith, daughter of Mrs. Piper and half sister of Mrs. Armstrong of Quadra Island; Etta and Hazel's mother; Mrs. Ken Hanson; Mrs. Gwen Campbell, youngest daughter of Mike Hanson's family; Alice Marquette. TRACK 2: The strange tale of Polish logger Harry B. Sandwik, and his demise; various photos briefly described; the Petznicks, and the story of the betrothal and arrival of Bernadette; John Manson; Joe O'Donnell -- his life, death and times. CALL NUMBER: T1822:0003 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Discussing the merits of George Griffin tape on the history of Cortes; why William Manson changed his name to Wm. J. Manson and the relationship of Skeen Willy; how Rose was taught not to be a sissy; troubles on Cortes with wolves and dogs; how Mr. Tieber came to change his name; the two Smith families; Marion Smith and the other family, Bob and Him; the Aldritch story; they were both doctors; onion poultices; Dada Hawkins; Uncle Lawrence's two uses of the fire insurance policy; Chief Assu; Mike Manson's strange arrival in San Francisco; Henry and Rose arrive in Campbell River in April 1948; Major Matthews' visit; Tom Leask and Uncle Mike lead the posse and apprehend a law breaker; memory of a visit in 1917 to Uncle Willy at the Nanaimo town site. TRACK 2: Mary Wyler; the Nixons; Professor David R. Levity; Michael Herriwigs mother; Robina, Wilfred; Ethel, Hazel in 1900; the children of Michael and Jane Manson; Henry's diary; 1906, Mike moves back to Cortez Island from Union; Bay and the story of Shep and how he rescued Flo and Floss, the children from his first marriage, from certain death; Mr. Mountain, a Cortez Island resident and college pal of composer Jean Sibelius; his visit to Jack Manson's casket wood pile and his remark about his dead wife, "She's got to go down before she can go up."; the Paulsen's arrival, their life and times and his plans for a park; they built the house on Cold Mountain; Mrs. Nakasuey, his life and times; Japanese baby care; his English lessons from Mrs. Petznick; Harry Daniels. CALL NUMBER: T1822:0004 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Griffin describes the early whaling operations at Whaletown in 1867; Reef or Sutil Point area; Smelt Bay; Rose describes the smelt at their beach and recipes for their use; Griffin mentions the Conlin family and Rose corrects his impressions and mentions the Pagets, the Bursons and Mrs. Tell; Mrs. Burson's, a.k.a. Mrs. Conlin, children, Michael, Parnell Phillip; and Patrick; their lives and times; the story of the mysterious gurgling suitcase; hardtack and syrup; Hartley and Mamie Cullon, their children, Carroll, Hartley and Mamie; the story of Carol's birth and medicinal moss. [TRACK 2: blank?]; CALL NUMBER: T1822:0005 - 0006 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01 SUMMARY: [No content summary available for these two tapes.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Farms on Cortes Island and Read Island. Came to Cortes in 1920. Homesteads available on Cortes, Read, etc., after WWI. Mother settled at Gorge Harbour. Feuding on Cortes between Mansons Landing people and Whaletown people. Merchant Service. Depression. Worked on the "Prince Robert". Wife came to Cortes in 1929; her mother ran the resort at Gorge Harbour for 5-6 years. Married in 1937. The resort. Entertainment. More on Depression, feuds. Community hall. Went into logging. Fishing. Joined Navy in WWII. Job with logging company after war. Lived in Esquimalt, then Courtenay; then lived aboard a small gulf trawler, 1959-1969. Winters in California and Mexico. TRACK 2: Hungry Thirties. Shacks at Cape Mudge. Various boats. Hand logging on Cortes. Stories about logging. Bute Inlet logging camp. Running a locomotive. Loggers and trappers at Bute inlet. Wife's childhood. People who came to the lodge [at Gorge Harbour?].;