Wearing Your History: Northwest Coast Families and Crests
"To the women these pieces of jewelry, such as the bracelets, necklaces and earrings, they were more than adornment. They were something to display their crests on."
— Christian White, Haida artist
The ravens, whales and other creatures depicted on Northwest Coast jewelry are more than just images of animals. Most of these figures are crests—emblems of a family's ancestral history and mythological origins. Crests are considered property, and most people today still observe the practice of displaying only those crests owned by their extended family.
In the past, a principal purpose of crest art was to assert the status of an extended family—a house group—which owned property together. Social status and prestige remain important forces in Northwest Coast society today.
Icons from the Ancestors
Each Northwest Coast house group owns property, including one or more emblems called crests. Most crests represent animal spirits, such as beaver or wolf, but others depict spirits of rainbows or cumulus clouds. Totem poles, bracelets, boxes and many other objects bear these symbols, which recall a house group's long history. Crests also affirm the family's origin myth—usually the encounter of their ancestor with a supernatural animal spirit.
