Bear Carving

Artist: Leo Mitchell
Penelakut Island (Kuper Island)

Mythology:

Bear: The Bear is a great hunter and symbolizes strength and power. Always treated as a high-ranking guest by many of the cultural groups on the coast, it is also known by for its human-like qualities. The characteristics of the bear that are symbolized in Northwest Coast are a short blunt nose with conspicuous teeth, a protruding tongue, small upright ears and claw-like fore and hind paws.