Indigenous Art

Carvings

100

Name 3 things that are used in carving

Stone, Bone and Wood

200

What did the Inuit use to carve ? 

Soapstone

300

What carvings are made on the Northwest Coast? 

Totem poles

400

Name an item, worn on the head that is carved

Mask

500

What do the Inuit make their carvings about?

Artic landscapes, Wildlife, Daily Life, Hunting, Family and Rich Mythology (spirits)

Beadwork

100

List an item of clothing that beading is done on

Coats, Robes, Shirts, Skirts

200

Name 2 items that are used in beading that comes from animals

Porcupine quills, Moose hair, Horse hair, Seal

300

What is the name of the beaded item used instead of paper?

Wampum Belts

400

What was used originally to do bead work? 

Stone, bone, shells

500

What is a key aspect to Beadwork for the Indigenous peoples?

• Cultural Significance: For many Indigenous cultures (like Native American, Métis), beadwork tells stories, honors ancestors, and connects practitioners to their heritage, often done in community settings.

Materials

100

Name the Land Based materials

Stone, Wood, Bone, Antlers, Ivory, Hides (Moose and Deer) Plant fibers

200

What do these symbolize? 

Identity, Spirituality, Oral History, Connection to the land and Resilience 

300

What are the 4 kinds Indigenous Art

Bannerstones, Projectile point, Lithic reduction styles and Pictographic cave paintings

400

What is distinctive about the Bannerstone?

There is a hole drilled through it

500

Name an example of Projectile point

Arrow head

Totem Poles

100

What are the typical colours used on a Totem pole?

Black, red and white

200

What are totem poles?

Totem poles are monumental carvings from the First Nations and Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, made from large cedar trees

300

What do the totem poles represent?

 represent ancestry, histories, people, or events, featuring stylized figures of humans, animals, and supernatural beings that tell clan stories, display crests, and mark lineage, often raised with potlatch ceremonies to share cultural heritage.

400

What are their Purpose & Meaning?

• Storytelling & History: They record the histories, legends, and significant events of families and clans.
• Crest & Lineage: Figures often represent family crests (like Raven, Thunderbird, Bear) to show clan membership and validate rights.
• Commemoration: Poles can honor chiefs, mark important milestones, or serve as memorial/grave markers.
• Welcoming: Some poles welcome visitors to a community or house. 

500

Types of Poles

• House Frontal: Placed on the front of a clan house, telling its story.
• Memorial/Grave: Honor deceased individuals.
• Shame Poles: Publicly shame someone who broke a promise. 

This and That

100

Cultural Significance of a totem pole

• Totem poles are respected cultural art forms, not objects of worship.
• Their creation and meaning are deeply tied to the identity, genealogy, and spiritual beliefs of Northwest Coast Indigenous peoples. 

200

Where are totem poles found in the world?

 Indigenous peoples in the islands and coastal areas of North America's Pacific Northwest, especially British Columbia, Canada, and coastal areas of Washington and southeastern Alaska in the United States. 

Also the Orkney Islands, Scotland. There are 2 totem poles there.Orkney has a unique First Nations and Orcadian Totem Pole, erected in 2007, symbolizing cultural links between Indigenous Canadian peoples and Orkney, carved collaboratively by Squamish Nation artists and local carvers. It stands near the Churchill Barriers on Mainland Orkney, representing a bridge between worlds, unlike traditional totem poles which tell specific family histories, this pole connects shared seafaring traditions and bridging cultures. 

300

What are Indigenous Art Prints made from?

 Artists use mesh screens, stencils (often hand-cut), and squeegees to push ink through, creating rich color density. Screen print, or serigraph, is much like regular stencil, but instead of using a stiff stencil paper cut with holes in the desired shapes, the printmaker uses a porous screen stretched over a frame (at one time this porous screen was made of silk). 

400

What is the Metis most popular woven item? 

Metis Sash

500

Who are called the Flower Beadwork People

The Metis