This double-sided paddle is hand-carved by Cree and adopted Nuu-chah-nulth artist Joshua Prescott. The paddle was created from yellow cedar, is intricately carved on one side with 6 inlays of abalone shell, and on the other side it is subtly knife-finished and painted in black and red acrylic.

This paddle features traditional Nuu-chah-nulth aesthetic elements inspired by the natural world, animals, mythological beings and legends.

The carved side features a large Thunderbird design with a lightning bolt for the tongue.

The Thunderbird is a mythical creature that is said to be the dominating force of all-natural activity. Located in the Pacific North Western Mountains, the Thunderbird creates booms of thunder by flapping his wings and shoots bolts of lightning from his eyes, when hunters got too close to his home.

Find more information about and examples of Northwest Coast First Nations symbol.

The Thunderbird design is accompanied by a Wolf, a Lightning Snake, and near the handle a small bird that, in traditional stories, Whalers would see way out in the ocean.

The painted side features a large Lightning Snake design. Near the handle is a Wolf with a ritualistic Wolf whistle. In legends, the Wolves would blow on this whistle, and spirit would blow through it.

The paddle measures approximately 53 inches or 134 1/2 centimeters long, 6 inches or 15 1/4 centimeters wide, and 1 1/2 inches or 4 centimeters at it's thickest.