Vancouver Island; British Columbia; Canada
Northwest Coast / Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka)

Cedar, pigment
ca. 19th century
Length: 8.5 in, Width: 6 in
Idiophone – Struck – Indirectly (Rattle)

This basketry rattle could have been used by a shaman (a person endowed by spirits with supernatural power) or the Maquinna, a chief of the Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) people.  Of the same weaving design, material, and technique are the vintage Nuu-chah-nulth Maquinna basketry whaler’s hats.   The Nuu-chah-nulth reside on the west coast of Vancouver Island and are known as famous whalers of the Northwest Coast on the Canadian side, along with their Makah relatives on the U.S. side.  Nuu-chah-nulth rattles are primarily carved from solid blocks of wood (cedar).  In the 1860s, they started producing baskets for the tourist trade.  Their baskets were woven so tight that they were able to easily hold water.  This rattle was made in the 1800s, seen here with the early intensive twisted cedar bark construction and geometric bands.  Inside are hard objects, possibly stones, beads, or small shells.