Jennifer Iredale with her certificate at the BC Historical Federation conference in Princeton.

A story exploring the history of basket making at All Hallows in the West school in Yale has won the BC Historical Federation’s Anne and Philip Yandle Best Article Award. 

Well Made Baskets: Nlaka’pamux Basket Makers and All Hallows School, by Jennifer Iredale, appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of British Columbia History magazine. It was chosen by a panel of judges from among two dozen eligible articles published in the magazine last year. 

One judge said the “research and storytelling skills are impressive” while another called it a “fascinating story that brings new history forward. Although nothing can justify residential schools, this is a story that portrays positive relationships — something that is needed today to foster reconciliation. Very well researched and features Indigenous voices.”  

The award comes with $250 and a certificate, which were presented to Iredale during the federation’s annual conference in Princeton on Saturday. 

“I was so surprised and thrilled to hear that my article was selected,” Iredale said.  

“I am deeply honored. Much of the credit for this article goes to my friend and colleague, the late Irene Bjerky, whose research underpinned this article and whose friendship and generous sharing of genealogical and basketry information was – and is – an inspiration towards revitalization and preservation of Nlaka’pamux basketry knowledge and practice. 

“Sharing the stories, history and practice of Nlaka’pamux cedar root basket making contributes to revitalizing and keeping this unique heritage alive. I am sure Irene would be as grateful as I am that this article, and through that the basketry tradition, has been recognized and honored with this award!” 

Iredale, who makes her home in both Victoria and on Mayne Island, is a past curator for BC’s provincial heritage properties and began her career at Barkerville in the 1970s. She is also the editor/author of Enduring Threads: Ecclesiastical Textiles of St. John the Divine Church, Yale, British Columbia and has curated numerous websites on BC history. In 2015, she received a Distinguished Service Award from the BC Museums Association. 

To continue Bjerky’s legacy, the Piyi?wi?x kt/Beeya.wEE.hh kt Language Foundation Society in Lytton, with private donations and a contribution from New Pathways to Gold, has established a cultural fund in her honour and memory to advance basket-making – TseeyA/Ćy̓éh. 

An honorable mention was also given to Catherine Clement for her article, Discovering the Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act, published in the Winter 2022 edition, which explained the genesis behind her project to collect Chinese immigration forms for an exhibition that opened July 1 at the new Chinese Canadian Museum of BC in Vancouver. 

“The layer of personal experience enhances the significance of the paper trail and gives this subject a much more immediate and sharper focus,” one judge remarked.  

Philip Yandle was the founder, editor, publisher, printer, binder, and distributor of the BC Historical News (now British Columbia History) from 1968 to 1977. His wife Anne Yandle was also very active in the BC Historical News for almost 40 years and served as the book reviews editor until her death in 2006. The following year, the BC Historical Federation renamed its Best Article Award Award in honour of the Yandles. 

Jennifer Irwin (right) receives her award certificate from BCHF awards chair Anna Irwin.