We are all that our past has generously bestowed upon us in knowledge, respect, beliefs, customs, and values. We have lived through the onslaughts of European-American epidemics from which we had no immunities; through the domination of Indian agents; through government boarding schools, extreme prejudice, the forced speaking of English, and intense psychological abuse. Yet we are here. We are proud of our heritage, proud of who we are, where we come from, where we live. --MAKAH AUHORS

The Native nations of the Pacific Northwest are renowned for the beauty and complexity of their artistic traditions. In this lavishly illstrated book, writers from eleven Northwest Coast communities describe the importance of car,Angs, weavings, and other treasures from the collections of the National Museum of the American Indian to their cultures. In words and images, these writers offer a series of unique perspectives on the art of Native life, and on the living mean- ing of their cultural inheritance.

OREWORD: The art of Native life   

INTRODUCTION : An elder's perspective 

COAST SALISH: The beauty of everyday things     

MAKAH: All that our past has generously bestowed     

NUU - CHAH - NULTH : A nation always praying    

KWAKWAKA'WAKW: Our customs, our ways     

HEILTSUK : Uplifting our people    

NUXALK: These treasures have kept our culture alive     

TSIMSH IAN : The strength of the people     

NISGAA: I will send you a messenger   

GITXSAN : Words of wisdom    

HAIDA: We carry on ou ancestors' voices     

TLINGIT: Things we will remember     

EPILOGUE : Learning to see from within   

NOTES AND REFERENCES    

CONTRIBUTORS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CREDITS