Amulets

Charms and amulets exhibit perhaps the greatest range of styles and imagery of any object type from the Northwest Coast. Their forms are said to be the manifestation of the dreams and visions of shamans. Amulets were in some cases carved by the shamans, while in others, the vision was divulged to a trained artist that produced the finished object. Amulets were thought to embody the shaman’s power and strength. These images of power were used as talismans to summon helping spirits during healing rituals, and were sometimes left with the patient to assist in effecting a cure. Amulets are also believed to contain the spirit power of the animal or other source from which the material was acquired. Marine mammal ivory would yield the power of whales, walruses or sea lions. Bone could be from a grizzly bear or whale, and stone, from an especially revered mountain.