The paint is black.

Very sensitive observation of the bird raven is apparent in the form of the mask's beak. It is as accurately rendered as an ornithologist's diagram and as expressive as an artist's impression. The Bella Coola artist has merged this naturalism with the sophisticated stylization typical of his people's art. Everywhere that ravens and humans come together the bird is perceived both as a mysterious being and as a reflection of the flawed characters of humans. Here the aggressive, cunning, boisterous raven merges, in the form of a headdress, with its human Bella Coola counterpart. (Holm, Spirit and Ancestor, 1987)

The wood is paint. The red is black and green.

The paint is red and black.

The paint is red, black, and green.

The paint is black and red.

The paint is black and red.

According to archeological record, the Queen Charlotte Islands were populated at least seven thousand years ago. Haida traditions claim the origin of humankind in the islands, but they also tell of the subsequent arrival of the ancestors of certain lineages by sea. In either case, the ancient Haida were of necessity expert canoeists, and generations of hard and practical experience made them unsurpassed designers, makers, and users of canoes. This canoe model was made by the renowned Haida artist Charles Edenshaw. (Holm, Spirit and Ancestor, 1987)