Native American Indian Art Wood Carvings of the Pacific Northwest

Native American Indian Art Wood Carvings of the Pacific Northwest Native American Indian art in the American southwest is dominated by the magnificent pottery and jewelry in the region. When it comes to the Pacific Northwest region which covers the states of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada) and the southern part of Alaska, the Native American art here is mostly wood carvings. This is not surprising since unlike the southwest desert, the Pacific Northwest is abundant with forests which have provided the wood as raw material for the region's Native American Indian art.

The wood carvings of the Pacific Northwest Native American art come in many different forms. The huge totem poles which are carved on entire tree trunks are probably the most famous. Certainly the most common form of contemporary Pacific Northwest Native American art is the plaque wood carving. The entire range of Pacific Northwest Native American Indian art subjects including eagles, ravens, thunderbirds, bears, killer whales and salmons are carved as plaques to be hung on the wall. A more complex project and usually higher priced would be the masks which are also carved out of wood. The Pacific Northwest Native American artists make some of the most striking aboriginal masks in the world. Creative artists and carvers from this region have also used wood to carve out bowls, paddles, rattles and boxes which are all expertly decorated with Pacific Northwest Native American Indian designs. Some carvers have even carved more day to day objects such as letter openers out of wood again decorated with the region's Native motifs. Although not restricting themselves to just wood, the Pacific Northwest Native American artists also do art prints, paintings and precious metal jewelry but overall wood is still the most common material used in their artwork. The Pacific Northwest style of Native American Indian art is still unknown to many parts of North America and the rest of the world but this will definitely change as the 2010 winter Olympics in British Columbia approaches. The world will see British Columbia and as visitors to this Canadian province have already noticed, there are fine examples of Pacific Northwest Native American Indian art everywhere one goes in the west coast of Canada. Native American Indian Art Wood Carvings of the Pacific Northwest Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins , ทำseo

The Northwest Coast Native American Potlatch Ceremony

One of the most popular ceremonies among Native peoples is the Northwest Coast Native American potlatch (or potlach of Native Indians of the Pacific Northwest). The potlatch has been practiced by Native nations such as the Haida, Salish, Tlingit, Tsimshian and Kwakwaka'wak for thousands of years.

Potlatches can be held to celebrate births, rites of passages, weddings, funerals, puberty and honoring of deceased. These celebrations will typically include a feast, music, some theatrical performances involving tribal masks and spiritual events. The host family of each potlatch will also demonstrate their wealth and social status by distributing gifts to the guests. Gifts included food, canoes, blankets, copper and many other types of items. Potlatches will often elevate the prestige of the hosts even more. Potlatches were also used to assert or formally transfer to heirs, certain economic or ceremonial privileges. The gifts were therefore used as payments to the guests for being witnesses to claims since written records were not produced. Lower status families would hold potlatches on a local scale while the elite would invite guests from many tribes to grander events. Sometimes, rival families would be in competition to outdo each other in elaborate potlatches. The potlatch itself would either be held inside a large longhouse or outdoors. Unfortunately, missionaries considered the potlatch to be demonic and satanic. As a result, they were able to get the Canadian government to ban potlatches in 1885. The US government also placed a similar ban in the late 19th century. Potlatches continued on a much smaller scale and in secrecy away from non-native eyes. The bans on the potlatch were eventually lifted in the US in 1934 and in Canada in 1951. Potlatches are still held today but of course, the types of gifts are also more contemporary and can include useful household items, Native art as well as cash.