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May 5, 2022Liked by David B. Williams

Dear SSN. Always fascinating, always introducing us to nearby places and settings we never knew. Passing this along to dog people and to people people. Thanks.

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May 5, 2022Liked by David B. Williams

I have wondered if there would be enough DNA left in those blankets to determine which genes are likely responsible for the 'wool' growing. My suspicion is that some where in the world are some living dogs with those genes likely hiding. If so it is possible to come up with a dog very much like those now extinct dogs. The wool, grown by local tribes would be very valuable.

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May 5, 2022Liked by David B. Williams

The Burke Museum in Seattle has recently discovered that one of the Salish blankets in the collection does have dog wool in it. The blanket, 2.5E1965, was analyzed by researchers from Canadian museums, and tested positive for dog wool. This was an exciting and important discovery for the museum and for local communities. Here is a link to the celebration held at the Burke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-7xcnyaZmU and a link to images on the museum website: https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/culture/contemporary-culture/database/display.php?ID=83784

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May 5, 2022Liked by David B. Williams

I'm guessing "Lopezians" are equally poochiphilic. I didn't know this history about Coast Salish dog types; thanks for another enlightening post. And thanks, too, for the mention of our upcoming conversation at Third Place Books; I'm looking forward to it!

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David: Fun post on Woolly dogs. We featured them in a Mossback's Northwest episode on Northwest dogs. We have some images of woollies, including one from 20th century Vancouver Island. Also, the Smithsonian has what I think is the only known full pelt of one. Anyone, they are fascinating. Here's the link: https://crosscut.com/video/mossbacks-northwest/lassie-lewis-and-clarks-pooch-famous-dogs-northwest

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The Suquamish Museum has some photos of wooly dogs in the twentieth century. I was really surprised (and excited) to see this, especially because the standard assumption is that these dogs went extinct in the nineteenth century. Additionally, several tribal museums in the region also have blankets with dog wool in them -- the Makahs have at least one at the MCRC.

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