The Orca Whale

One of the most prominent symbols of the North West Coast peoples is the Orca or Killer Whale. Traditional legends empower the Orca Whale with extraordinary powers which were to be respected and admired. The Orca was a major influence on the Salish people in that the pods of whales could scare away the life-giving salmon. The presence of these creatures in local waters meant that fish would be scarce for awhile.

A word about Cedar

In ancient times the native peoples believed that Cedar, even a stump left after felling a Cedar tree, contained life and a spirit. Because these natives had so many uses for all parts of the Cedar trees, they held them in the highest respect and believed deeply in the tree's healing and spiritual powers, They referred to Cedar trees as "Long Lifel Maker The Cedar tree is said to have been given to vento Earth to reward a good man who gave, shared and did good deeds for other people. When the good man died, the Great Spirit made a Cedar tree grow where he was buried The Cedar tree provided useful and necessary things for the people, bark for their clothes, roots for their baskets and wood to build shelters, canoes and paddles.