Northwest Coast Native American

The Indigenous peoples along the coast of British Columbia, Washington State, parts of Alaska, Oregon, and Northern California.

Dates

Places

North America > Canada, United States

Basics Works of Art Artists Periods, Cultures, Styles Curated Guides

Northwest Coast Native American

The Indigenous peoples along the coast of British Columbia, Washington State, parts of Alaska, Oregon, and Northern California.

Dates

Places

North America > Canada, United States

Basics Works of Art Artists Periods, Cultures, Styles Curated Guides

Basics to get you started

About geography and chronological periods in Native American art

Northwest Coast basketry—woven traditions

Terms and issues in Native American art

Works of Art

Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, Leaving My Reservation to Go to Ottawa and Fight for a New Constitution

1985

Teaching guide: Saxman Totem Park and the New Deal in Alaska

originally carved in the 19th century, recarved c. 1940

first carved 1880s, recarved c. 1940

The Chief Johnson Totem Pole

first carved in 1902, recarved by Israel Shotridge in 1989

The story of the Oyster Man, a Tlingit totem pole

originally carved in the 19th century, recarved c. 1940

Dorica Jackson, Diving Whale Chilkat Robe

2002–18

Haida potlatch pole

19th century

Bentwood Boxes of the Northwest Coast peoples

19th century

Tlingit mortuary and memorial totem poles

19th century

19th century

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Artists

Detail of totem pole by Henry and Tony Hunt and tipi in the background at the Indians of Canada Pavilion, 1967 (Library and Archives Canada / Canadian Corporation for the 1967 World Exhibition)

Detail of totem pole by Henry and Tony Hunt and tipi in the background at the Indians of Canada Pavilion, 1967 (Library and Archives Canada / Canadian Corporation for the 1967 World Exhibition)

Israel Shotridge

Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun

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Periods, Cultures, Styles

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Tsimshian, shaman’s rattle, c. 1750–80, birch, bone, hair, pigment, and metal pins, made in British Columbia, Canada, 35.6 x 22.9 x 11.4 cm on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Charles and Valerie Diker Collection)

Tsimshian

c. 12,000 B.C.E.–today

Ceremonial belt (Kwakwaka’wakw), late 19th century, wood, cotton, paint, and iron (Field Museum, Chicago)

Kwakwaka’wakw

to today

Dorica Jackson, Diving Whale Chilkat Robe, 2002–18, design from The Basketry of the Tlingit and the Chilkat Blanket by George Emmons, Merino wool and yellow cedar bark (Totem Heritage Center, Ketchikan, Alaska)

Tlingit

To today

Carriere’s Archaeology Basket under construction for the New York American Museum of Natural History remodeled Northwest Coast Hall. Ed made layers of weaves with the bottom rows a 4,500-year-old style, middle rows 3,000-years-old, and top 2,000-year-old Salish Sea ancient weaves. The next rows will be the last 1,000 years in his traditional territory. Photo by Dale Croes.

Suquamish

prehistory–today

Haida potlatch pole, 19th century, from the village of Old Kasaan, exact dimensions unknown (Totem Heritage Center, Ketchikan, Alaska)

Haida

to today

Unrealized design concept for the Indians of Canada Pavilion. March 1966 (© Government of Canada, reproduced with the permission of Library and Archives Canada, Library and Archives Canada / Canadian Corporation for the 1967 World Exhibition)

Cowichan

Unrealized design concept for the Indians of Canada Pavilion. March 1966 (© Government of Canada, reproduced with the permission of Library and Archives Canada, Library and Archives Canada / Canadian Corporation for the 1967 World Exhibition)

Tseshaht

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Curated Guides to Northwest Coast Native American

All Textbook Chapters Thematic Series

Textbook Chapter

Northern Northwest Coast Art

Thematic Series

Seeing America