Art

This wedge-shaped basket is made of cedar roots. Bark from a cherry tree is used to design the sides. The inside is blackened. Why might make that happen? This basket could have been used as a cooking basket to steam clams, to cook a fish soup or to prepare plant foods.

Totem Poles 

Although we see totem poles around it is important to remember that the poles tell a story and represent different things.

The totem poles often told stories, some about historical events, significant people, and family rights. Depicted on these totem poles were different beings and animals such as the bear, eagle, raven, whale, salmon and thunderbird. Some totem poles were painted while others were left in their original condition. Totem poles can be seen at Stanley Park, in Victoria at the RBCM, and at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Carving totem poles is still a tradition for many First Nations groups.

Welcome figures are also carved, shaped as a person with his/her hands out welcoming people. 

For the Coast Salish groups, the house posts are distinct and used as interior support. These posts would be carved or painted, often with figures. They depict ancestors, family history, or supernatural beings.

The winter villages were built near the water so they would be close to the canoes. The most common winter houses were made of a framework of posts and beams with a removable roof and wall planks. Often, these removable pieces would be used in the summer shelters. House posts were important to the houses of the Coast Salish. They made them very strong and they were part of the culture, often decorated with stories or the long-ago history of the house owners or protective legends.

This post portrays a moon symbol framing a human figure.

What animal is important to you? What animal would you use for your house post?