Canoe Ancestor Mask Val Malesku In oral traditions

In oral traditions

such as the Kwakwaka’wakw

Please note - The design of each sandblasted panel is identical

Owl can be identified by large forward-facing eyes

Serpents have been considered as high esteemed art symbols in many of the Pacific Northwest coast art traditions

Canoe Ancestor Mask Val Malesku In oral traditions2002 Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral