Heron

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions.

The great blue heron is a year-round inhabitant of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Heron frequently adorns the tops of Kwakwaka’wakw masks and in some oral traditions, Heron might appear as a watchman or represent patience and grace. The Heron can be identified by its very long neck and long thin legs.