Cecilia Adams

Cecilia Adams was born in 1981 to the House of Laxaax of the Frog clan from the village of Gitsegukla, BC. She grew up in Prince George watching her father (Nisga’a Master Carver Randy Adams-Dangeli) with his apprentices and her brothers Clint and Darrell Adams. Growing up around carvers and learning about First Nations cultures through the family gallery inspired a natural curiosity in Cecilia to explore these art forms herself. At age nine her father allowed Cecilia to begin an apprenticeship under him – beginning with painting nearly finished carvings.

The family moved from Prince George to Prince Rupert where they established a second family gallery. In Prince Rupert Cecilia worked on a family commission of a 12-foot totem pole that was sent to Osaka, Japan. Later, Cecilia completed a commission for a Frog mask that was destined to hang at a client’s home in Germany.

Cecilia moved back to the traditional territories of the Gitxsan Nation in 2009 to continue working alongside her father. With him, she completed a total of five 10-foot totem poles for the Gitxsan House Chiefs and their House Groups. She was also commissioned to complete headdresses and various ceremonial regalia for the same Chiefs.

As a member of the Gitsegukla Gidahmess Cultural Dancers, Cecilia was asked if she could, with her father, be the ones to make headdresses and regalia for the male dancers. During this commission, Cecilia discovered her talent for leatherworking, which she practices today alongside carving.

Cecilia has three children who, like her, have expressed much interest in the family trade and they have begun their artistic tradition under her watchful eye.

6 items

Eagle and Frog Totem Pole
Cecilia Adams (Gitxsan)

Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is ...

Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is respected for its intel­ligence and power, as well as its extraordinary vision, in both the literal and figurative senses. Eagles in myth are, likewise, usu­ally noble characters. Eagle is revered as a powerful hunter. Groups of mythical Eagles may gather for co-operative whale hunting expeditions, since, unlike the giant Thunderbird, Eagle is not strong enough to hunt whales alone. Eagle may ofte...

$1,450.00

Eagle Totem
Cecilia Adams (Gitxsan)

These works are hand-painted and colour features may vary.Eagle is one of the most important bein...

These works are hand-painted and colour features may vary.Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is respected for its intel­ligence and power, as well as its extraordinary vision, in both the literal and figurative senses. Eagles in myth are, likewise, usu­ally noble characters. Eagle is revered as a powerful hunter. Groups of mythical Eagles may gather for co-operative whale hunting expeditions, since, unlike the giant Thunderbird, Eagle...

$750.00

Eagle Totem Pole
Cecilia Adams (Gitxsan)

These works are hand-painted and colour features may vary.Eagle is one of the most important bein...

These works are hand-painted and colour features may vary.Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is respected for its intel­ligence and power, as well as its extraordinary vision, in both the literal and figurative senses. Eagles in myth are, likewise, usu­ally noble characters. Eagle is revered as a powerful hunter. Groups of mythical Eagles may gather for co-operative whale hunting expeditions, since, unlike the giant Thunderbird, Eagle...

$700.00

Frog Totem with Painted Raven
Cecilia Adams (Gitxsan)

These works are hand-painted and colour features may vary. Frogs are both social, vocal and are a...

These works are hand-painted and colour features may vary. Frogs are both social, vocal and are associated with the power of transformation and the ability to traverse worlds. As the primary spirit helpers of shamans, frogs are communicators and often represent the voice of the people. Frogs were often carved at the top of totem poles to symbolize the communication of warnings or impending danger. Frog is generally given large eyes, prominent lips with a projecting tongue and webbed feet.

$700.00

Killer Whale Totem
Cecilia Adams (Gitxsan)

These works are hand-painted and colour features may vary.Killer Whales are widely considered cla...

These works are hand-painted and colour features may vary.Killer Whales are widely considered clan ancestors. Living in human form in undersea villages, killer whales are often thought to be the reincarnations of great chiefs and are associated with wealth, unity and travel. Some prominent characteristic traits of Killer Whale are a rounded snout, blowhole, a dorsal fin, pectoral fins and a tail.

$700.00

Raven Totem Pole
Cecilia Adams (Gitxsan)

These works are hand-painted and colour features may vary. Raven is one of the most important fig...

These works are hand-painted and colour features may vary. Raven is one of the most important figures in the oral traditions of the Northwest Coast. As a cultural hero, a transformer, and a trickster, his adventures at the beginning of time brought the world as we know it now into existence. It was Raven who placed the sun, moon and stars in the sky after stealing them from a supernatural chief. Raven also discovered the first humans and released them into the world.

$700.00