Jumping salmon with a human face illustrates the Indian belief that salmon, like all animals, are humans in other forms; detail of a silk-screen by Susan A Point, Coast Salish.

Artist Susan A. Point's work has been strongly influenced by traditionally carved spindle whorls. Here are four salmon jumping around the spindle hole. Silk-screen, 1981.

In the Indian River near Sitka, a fisheries expert fishes for marked humpback salmon as part of the research into the mysterious life cycle of the salmon.

Another shaman charm, which was collected fully 100 years ago from the Niska on the Nass River. Carved of bone, it represents a salmon. (9 cm, NMM)
NMM = National Museum of Man, Ottawa

«Salmon»: a crest board with a salmon carved in relief with a superimposed fish mouth, by David Boxley of Metlakatla. (76 cm: 1985)

«The Eagle and the Salmon» Silk-screen from Stan Greene in the form of a spindle whorl carving. The faces symbolizes the human essence of the animals.

Photo Gallery