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A right whale opens wide, revealing huge plates of baleen hanging from its upper jaw.
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Right Whale Baleen

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These rattles from British Columbia were used during shamanistic performances.
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Ceremonial Rattles

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Fish spears and traps placed in rivers are traditional ways of catching salmon.
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Catching Salmon

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Crafted from the skins of salmon, these mittens are naturally waterproof.
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Salmon Skin Mittens

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Traditional Native festivities often included ceremonial objects like this bowl.
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Feasting Bowl

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Decorated ceremonial regalia reflect the importance of ocean fish to Native communities.
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Ocean Symbols in Ceremonial Art

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Elders bless a new canoe with lighted sage, song, and traditional dances.
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Blessing a New Canoe

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As these models show, traditional canoes came in a variety of shapes and designs.
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Varieties of Canoes

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Members of the Squamish Nation paddle to a 1997 festival celebrating Native canoe arts.
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Celebrating Traditional Canoes

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Douglas Chilton uses traditional carving tools to shape the Raven Spirit canoe.
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Carving the Canoe

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A crew works on creating a life-size, meticulously detailed model of the North Atlantic right whale Phoenix
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Crew Works on Phoenix Model

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Scaffolding and supports support a life-size model of a right whale in the national Museum of Natural History.
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Work Site for Building the Model of Phoenix

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