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The Gazette, Montréal, Wednesday, December 14, 1932. p.2
Studying Chinese and Indian Music
Dr. Barbeau and Dr. Kiang Have Found Very Striking Similarities
Further evidence of the Asiatic origin of the North American Indian is being built up by Dr. Maurice [sic] Barbeau, of the archeological department of the National Museum, Ottawa, who has recently found a striking resemblance between Indian and Chinese music. Dr. Barbeau is in Montreal conferring with Dr. Kiang, head of the department of Chinese studies, McGill University, on the subject.
Dr. Kiang has played records of Chinese music for Dr. Barbeau, and Dr. Barbeau has played Indian airs on the piano for Dr. Kiang and, although their research has as yet not been very deep or comprehensive, they have come across many interesting and striking similarities. The strongest resemblances they have met with have been in the funeral chants or dirges of the Eagle and Wolf clans of the northwest coast.
Dr. Barbeau is accompanied by a fellow-worker who can sing the Indian songs and in some instances Dr. Kiang was able to show them that the very words, or the burden of the refrain, which meant nothing in the Indian did mean something in Chinese! These songs are also very like some Bhuddist [sic] music, Dr. Barbeau stated.
The Athabaska Indians, whose music it is Dr. Barbeau has been studying, probably did not come to America until the 13th century. They were, he believes, part of the warlike, nomadic people who fought under Atilla and Ghengiz Khan. This belief is supported by their behavior in America where they have penetrated as far south as New Mexico and Arizona. And now their music is found to be of distinctly Mongol derivation.
Dr. Barbeau is planning to continue his research in New York in January with a study of the collection of Siberian music in the Museum of Natural History. He feels that this music will disclose even more points of contacts with the music of the North American Indian since it is closer in the line of migration.
Dr. Barbeau will shortly publish a collection of 75 songs of Indians of the Northwest coast.