The Woolly Dog Project

This film project explores the story of the extinct woolly dog—a breed domesticated thousands of years ago by the Coast Salish of the Pacific Northwest, but unfortunately became extinct in the late 1800s. Coast Salish communities cherished the woolly dog for its soft white fur, which they sheared to create intricate textiles central to their culture. Recently, a woolly dog pelt was discovered at the Smithsonian and genetically sequenced, offering new insights into the dog’s origins and its role in Coast Salish heritage.

The CORVA Studio Lab was approached by the Smithsonian and several Coast Salish leaders to take part in documenting the story of this remarkable dog and its cultural significance. Production for the project began in October 2023.