Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon.
Stolo Tribal Nation of the Coastal Salish People – G.W.M. ‘Echo Otter’

Wood, pigment, tape
ca. Late 20th century
Height: 10.25 in, Width: 4 in, Depth: 1.625 in
Idiophone – Struck – Indirectly (Rattle)

Signed: Glen Wade ‘Echo Otter’

A Coast Salish handcrafted polychromed cedar Bear and Eagle rattle.  This rattle is a two-dimensional style characterized by low-relief (shallow) carving in wood, where the negative (background) areas are carved away to reveal the positive form of the animals, on the flat surface of the material.  It is signed Glen Wade ‘Echo Otter,’ and upon research the full name of this Coastal Salish carver is Glen Wade Miihko (G.W.M. ‘Echo Otter’ b. 1953).  He is a member of the Stolo Tribal Nation of the Coastal Salish People. 

A wide range of creatures are depicted in Coast Salish art.  Some are easy to recognize and others only the carver knows.  To truly know the meanings represented, the Coast Salish artist would need to tell us or the story behind the artwork would have to be shared, as those who felt a personal connection to supernatural spirit powers would not typically depict this connection through art for fear that overexposing the presence of these spirits meant that their powers may be lost.