• Materials: Yellow Gold and Silver
• Artists: Carrie Matilpi
• Totem Symbols: Salmon
• Styles: Canadian First Nations
• Categories: Earrings

Salmon

The symbol of immortality and wealth, dependability and renewal. The Salmon is the life source, and is always treated with high regard and respect. Many First Nations cultures tell of the Salmon people living in the ocean, who offer their bodies as food to the human world and once their flesh is used they return home to put on new flesh and begin the cycle once again. Their stories teach to honour and respect what is given and to never be too greedy.

Carrie Matilpi

Carrie was born in 1976, her tribes are Kwakiutl, Carrier and Cree. She started silver work in 1994 in an apprenticeship under her father Charles Harper who had been apprenticed under great Lloyd Wadhams in the mid 1970’s. The other major influences of Carrie’s native designs are from her uncles, they are Douglas and Glen Harper, Dennis and George Matilpi, all of them are well known for their wood carvings and jewelry engraving.

Carrie creates intricate and delicate pieces, mainly in silver, drawing inspiration from the traditional animals of her nations.