Potlatch People

Mildred Valley Thornton had an abiding passion which she pursued with almost missionary fervour throughout her life -- the preservation of Canada's Native culture. For over fifty years she dedicated herself to that purpose through the medium of her paintings, writings and lectures. During the course of her career, Mildred not only painted the portraits of many prominent and historical Native Canadians, but she assembled an accompanying catalogue of anecdotes, folklore and legends, which today provide a unique chronicle of a vanished age. This publication is a collection of both Thornton's colourful portraits and the fascinating story behind each one.