Bentwood boxes are made from cedar planks, which have been steamed, cut and bent at a 90-degree angle to create a watertight and seamless structure. Unique to Northwest Coast Indigenous cultures, bentwood boxes have been used for both symbolic and everyday functions.

This bentwood box features a Thunderbird crest by Coast Salish artist and lawyer, Shain Jackson. The Thunderbird possesses the highest spiritual energy and represents the highest levels of power, courage and prestige.

Shain Jackson is a Coast Salish artist from the First Nation community of Sechelt. He is a lawyer who has represented the interests of Indigenous communities and organizations throughout British Columbia in relation to a broad array of issues. After years devoted to the legal profession, Shain has taken a break to follow his passion as an artist. Jackson is the president of Spirit Works, an Indigenous-owned, operated and staffed company focused on the design, production and distribution of Indigenous artwork such as jewelry, bentwood boxes, paddles and so on.

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