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, leather, beads
ca. Late 20th century
Height: 10.25 in
Idiophone – Struck – Indirectly (Rattle)

Signed: Glen Wade ‘Echo Otter’

Native American symbols and crests play an important part in the culture and history of First Nations in North America. Each animal, spirit and supernatural being represents and symbolizes different stories, traits, personality, and values.  The term Salish refers to a language family and within those are several tribes.  The Coast Salish are not clan-based, thus the display of a crest on ceremonial objects is not present.  

This Northwest Coast (Eagle) Rattle was carved by Glen Wade ‘Echo Otter.’   His tribal nation is Stolo of the Coast Salish People, and his full name is Glen Wade Miihko (G.W.M. ‘Echo Otter – b. 1953). 

The basic design elements of the Coast Salish art include the circle, the crescent, trigon (three-pointed convex triangles) and extended crescent.  This rattle displays the painted design element of the extended crescent design on the neck between the leather wrapped handle and the low-relief carved head of the eagle.

Resources: Gilbert, Jim and Karin Clark, Learning By Design: Pacific Northwest Coast Native Indian Art, Vol. 1, Raven Publishing Inc., 2003.    “Coast Salish Art.” Burke Museum, https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/culture/contemporary-culture/coast-salish-art