Very unique handcrafted First Nations Orca Wall Carving measures 23 x 14.5 x 2.75, priced at $450. This piece has a detachable dorsal fin for safest shipping. Really interesting, chunky stylized piece. The carving is signed and inscribed on the back, with a touching dedication to the recipient.  Really a cool and unusual carving!

In many Native Northwest cultures, orca whales are revered as spiritual beings with the ability to transcend the physical realm. They are often seen as messengers between the human and spirit worlds, providing guidance and wisdom, according to Spirit of the West Coast Art Gallery. Some tribes believe orcas are reincarnations of deceased chiefs or leaders.

Orcas are regarded as guardians of the ocean, protectors of seafarers, and even leaders of the aquatic world. Orcas are often depicted with seals as their servants and dolphins as their warriors.

In Native American oral traditions of the Pacific Northwest, there are stories of the Thunderbird and the Whale, often associated with earthquakes and tsunamis. These stories depict a struggle between the powerful Thunderbird (a sky spirit) and the Mimlos-Whale (an orca), with the battle’s aftermath described as great shaking and flooding. These stories serve as both literal accounts of recent historical events and metaphorical explanations for the effects of seismic activity.

Many traditional artworks depict the Thunderbird flying high with an Orca whale clutched in it’s talons. The Orca was dropped into the sea from on high, and vanquished then in battle, but the impact was said to have created massive Tsunami waves and massive destruction.

This is likely referring to the cataclysmic 1700 Cascadia earthquake. It resulted in massive tsunamis at the time, and had devastating effects, as seen in the geological record. These indigenous stories, passed down through generations, often recount the great earthquake followed by a destructive tsunami that flooded coastal villages, carrying away people, canoes, and houses.