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

Thunderbird is the illustrious ancestor and crest of many prominent lineages. Large enough to hunt whales, the Thunderbird is a powerful being in traditions throughout the Northwest Coast. It is often depicted with a sharply hooked beak and large ears or horns.

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