Elegant Jewelry

 

A diverse array of materials are utilized for adornment by First Nations cultures on the West Coast. Sterling silver, copper and gold are favored, yet there exists a rich tradition within British Columbia's Indigenous cultures of employing organic materials like cedar, wood, shell, plant, stone and bone, for crafting jewelry.

Although silver, copper and gold became prevalent in the Pacific Northwest via trade and mining, the First Nations, who have resided on this land for thousands of years, have fashioned adornment objects from naturally occurring materials.