The Inuit language, particularly in the Arctic region, uses "aivik" or "aivuk" to refer to the walrus. This term is not just a word; it carries cultural weight. Walruses are a key part of the Inuit diet and way of life, with every part of the animal being utilized for food, clothing, and other essential items.

The walrus is also considered a symbol of the Arctic environment and its bounty. The Inuit have a deep respect for the animals that provide them with sustenance, recognizing the interconnectedness of the natural world and the importance of responsible harvesting.

Walrus tusks are used to make tools and also used for carving, and the resulting artwork is an important part of Inuit culture and can be a source of income for artists.

The walrus is a keystone species in the Arctic food web and a vital resource for coastal communities and ecosystems.

For many Alaska Native communities, walrus are a fundamental part of subsistence living. The meat, oil, skin, and ivory are all utilized, ensuring the survival of these communities.

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This piece is beautifully carved, and is crafted from a very fine piece of Serpentine stone. Stop by the gallery and see it in person!

Excellent condition. Please click through the photos to see all the angles and the artist marks.

In Alaska, the seal hunt holds profound meaning for many Alaska Native communities, representing a long-standing cultural and economic tradition. Seals provide vital resources like food, clothing, fuel, and materials for tools and crafts, with their importance extending beyond mere survival to encompass spiritual and social practices. In some cultures, seals are viewed as having a spirit or soul, and hunting rituals are conducted to honor the animal and ensure a bountiful harvest in the future. Seal very much happen to be the "daily bread" of Arctic dwellers. Traditionally, seal hunting provided skins to make the clothing the Inuit needed to keep warm, the blubber they needed to heat their homes and to cook and the meat they needed to sustain life.

The post Alaskan “Man Holding a Seal” Serpentine Stone Carving appeared first on Forest Gems Gallery.

Signed by the artist. The artist was a member of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nations of Kamloops, BC. The Kamloops Indian band is a First nations government within the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, which represents ten of the seventeen Secwepemc band governments.

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The Squamish First Nation has an excellent website loaded with information about the amalgamated tribe, the land, the history of the Squamish people, and more. Please check out this incredible and culturally rich place!  https://www.squamish.net/

[embed]https://youtu.be/U3sO4PKkJlo?si=nLRaREB5UpdDbOm9[/embed]

The post First Nations 25.5 inch Model Totem Pole appeared first on Forest Gems Gallery.

The artist, Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations, was born 1950 in Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada. The Kwakwaka’wakw people occupy the lower central region of the Pacific Northwest Coast. 

He learned to carve from his father, and has carved with his brother, both well known artists. He lives now on Vancouver Island and teaches basic carving skills to elementary school children. He is a very well known and very well liked Northwest Coast Native artist who is preserving the carving traditions of his people. 

U'melth is the Raven, who brought the Kwakwaka'wakw people the moon, fire, salmon, the sun and the tides. The Kwakwaka'wakw creation narrative states the world was created by a raven flying over water, who, finding nowhere to land, decided to create islands by dropping small pebbles into the water. He then created trees and grass, and, after several failed attempts, he made the first man and woman out of wood and clay.

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Check out the photos for details of the carving. This is a classic form that fakers often try to copy, but this vintage piece is authentic, and it signed by the artist.

The artist was born in 1040 a village near Nitinaht, where his people have lived for centuries, with no doctors present. Nitinat Lake is a large lake and inlet on the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island. His name was passed down from his Grandfather, although in traditional Nuuh Chah Nulth language, his name translates to “everybody is talking about me”. He passed away in 2019.

Growing up, no English was spoken in his home. The artist did not attend school, but learned everything he knows from his Grandfather, who was a whaler in his village. He taught his grandson how to carve harpoons with mussel shell spears to hunt whales, and paddles for their canoes. At the age of two, the artist composed his first song, which led to a lifetime of singing, dancing, and carving.

The artist spent decades teaching the youth in the same village where he was born their traditional language, culture, and history. He built long houses, canoes, and other artwork that has been purchased by collectors and museums around the world. He was invited to potlatches across the Nuuh Chah Nulth Nation to sing and dance and tell stories.

Jimmy has 10 children, 25 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren, whom he has passed down all of his knowledge to. Many of his family are now well-established artists who accredit their talents to the wisdom and teachings of Jimmy.

The Nuu-chah-nulth, also formerly referred to as the Nootka, Nutka, Aht, Nuuchahnulth or Tahkaht, are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast in Canada. The term Nuu-chah-nulth is used to describe fifteen related tribes whose traditional home is on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

In the 1980s, geologists found evidence that an earthquake, powerful enough to send a tsunami all the way to Japan, hit the American Pacific Northwest in 1700. Some ethnologists believe that "Thunderbird and Whale" legends may be a description of that disaster. (More info on Wikipedia about that event can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1700_Cascadia_earthquake)

One such narrative is a recurrent battle between Thunderbird and the "Mimlos-Whale", an orca that repeatedly escapes to sea after capture, and this struggle resulted in great tremors in the mountains and leveling of trees, offering a mythic explanation of the origin of the Olympic Peninsula prairies.

The myth of the epic struggle between Thunderbird and Whale is found in common among different language/cultural groups of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of America, and seems to be uniquely localized to this area. It is also the major archetypal motif in carvings and painted art, particularly among the natives along the outlying coasts of Vancouver Island, e.g., the Kwakiutl (Kwakwakaʼwakw) or the Nootka (Nuu-chah-nulth) people.

One Quileute version can be summarized as follows:

Whale was a monster, killing other whales and depriving the Quileute tribe of meat and oil. Thunderbird, a benevolent supernatural being, saw from its home high in the mountains that the people were starving. It soared out over the coastal waters, then plunged into the ocean and seized Whale.

Thunderbird eventually succeeded in lifting Whale out of the ocean, carrying it high into the air and then dropping it. A struggle ensued; the ocean receded and rose again. Many canoes were flung into trees and many people were killed.

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It rests nicely on a shelf or table but would easily accept a hanger on the back for wall display if desired.

The artist was born in 1959 into the Squamish Band of the Coast Salish Nation at Capilano in North Vancouver, BC. He began to carve when he was 18 years old under the direction of Salish Carver Marvin Baker. The artist is part of a large and renowned artistic family. It was only natural for him and his brothers to turn to carving to support their families and carry timeless traditions forward into the new age. He specializes in carving bowls, talking sticks, totem poles and plaques.

The Native Salmon Symbol symbolizes abundance, fertility, prosperity and renewal. For thousands of years, Salmon have been the primary and essential food source for Pacific Northwest Coast Native people and wildlife species.

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The model totem form is very frequently FAKED, sadly. Please study this authentic signed original piece and behold the balance, proportion, and flow of all carved elements. Faked sweat-shop copies cannot hope to ever approach this level of expression and mastery.

The Thunderbird reigns supreme at the top of the pole, then comes the Wolf at center, and the tiny Frog is at the bottom, closest to the earth. If you love woodworking and/or carving at all, do take a moment to relish the incredible technique on display here. It's masterful.

The artist was born in September of 1952, on the Ditidaht Reservation (Nitinaht Lake) located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada.

He is a member of the Ditidaht First Nation, which is itself part of the larger Nuu-cha-nulth (Nootka) Nation of the Pacific Northwest Coast Natives. Nuu-cha-nulth means 'people along the islands'.

The artist is from a well-known family of carvers who have distinguished themselves with their colorful totem poles. When he can get chestnut wood, he sometimes prefers it over the more traditional cedar wood for carving.

Thunderbirds, frogs, Orca whales, wild men and salmon are all favorite subjects.

The artist is noted for his wood carving, gold and silver smithing work, painting, and print making. Harvey brings the graphic style of his family and the Nuu-cha-nulth people to all his artwork.

The British Museum collection contains several silkscreen prints designed and produced by him.

The post First Nations Thunderbird, Wolf, Frog Model Totem Pole appeared first on Forest Gems Gallery.

Click on the photos and check out the details: The moment captured here shows the bear holding the eagle in his arms, head down. The frog is settled atop the bear's head, with the frog gripping the bear's ears (for the ride of his life, no doubt!)

This Bear, Eagle, and Frog piece is small but mighty, and it is totally unique and fascinating.

The artist is a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation, based in Alert Bay on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Born into a very important carving family in 1974, the artist wasted no time taking on the mantel of greatness from his uncles, mother, and extended family members all excelling in their artwork.

Today his pieces are collected worldwide. His style is a distinctive fusion of traditional and contemporary and is easily recognizable for fine detail and extremely high design quality. It’s our honor to present this piece at Forest Gems.

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