In British Columbia, First Nations Peoples used unique, and beautifully adorned traditional containers to store their most precious possessions. These containers are commonly known as Bentwood Boxes. Aside from their décor, one of the aspects distinguishing the Bentwood Box from other wooden boxes lies in its construction. The body of the container is constructed using only a single piece of Western Red Cedar. It is grooved on the corners and thoroughly steamed in order to painstakingly bend the piece into what you see before you.
This piece symbolizes the well known tale of how the Raven stole the sun and placed it in the sky as an offering to the world.
- Material: Western Red Cedar, abalone inlay
- Size: 2 x 3 x 3 inches
- Designed by First Nation artist Shain Jackson
- Made in British Columbia
Shain Jackson is a Coast Salish artist from the First Nations community of Sechelt. He is also a lawyer who has represented Indigenous communities throughout British Columbia.