Native Art Symbolism: Stories, Meaning and Cultural Knowledge

Native Art Symbolism: Stories, Meaning and Cultural Knowledge

Symbolism as Visual Language

Symbolism plays a central role in Northwest Coast Native art, serving as a visual language through which stories, histories, and cultural knowledge are shared. For Indigenous artists of the Northwest Coast, symbols are not simply decorative motifs—they are meaningful forms that carry ancestral teachings, social values, and connections to land, water, and community.

From carved poles and ceremonial objects to contemporary limited edition screen prints, Northwest Coast Native art continues to communicate meaning through formline design, animal figures, and ancestral beings. Understanding this symbolism allows viewers and collectors to engage with the artwork on a deeper level, recognizing both its cultural roots and its living presence today.

Understanding Northwest Coast Native Art Symbols

Northwest Coast Native art symbols are most often expressed through formline design, animal figures, and ancestral beings. These symbols reflect core themes such as transformation, balance, lineage, and connection to land and water. While certain figures appear across the region, their meanings vary by Nation, family, story, and artist.

Because of this, Native art iconography should be understood as contextual and living—not a fixed or universal system.

Animal Symbolism in Indigenous Art

Animal imagery is central to Northwest Coast Indigenous art symbolism. Figures such as Orca, Raven, Eagle, Bear, Frog, Salmon, and Wolf appear frequently, each carrying layered meanings related to strength, knowledge, communication, or transformation. In many cases, these figures also serve as clan crests or personal symbols chosen by the artist.

Future posts in this series will explore individual symbols in depth, examining their cultural significance and contemporary interpretations.

Symbolism as Living Cultural Knowledge

Today’s Northwest Coast artists continue to use traditional symbols while working in modern mediums, including screen printmaking. These works demonstrate how Native art symbolism remains a living form of cultural expression, shaped by both ancestral knowledge and present-day experience.

Why Native Art Symbolism Matters

Understanding the meaning of Native art symbols encourages deeper engagement and respectful appreciation. By learning the cultural context behind Northwest Coast Native art, collectors and viewers connect more meaningfully with the artwork and the stories it carries.

This article serves as a foundation for upcoming posts focused on specific Northwest Coast Native art symbols, each explored through cultural, historical, and contemporary perspectives.

Image: Kwa-Giulth Wolf by Alvin Child