Cowichan Valley region on Vancouver Island
Salish Master and Elder Simon Charlie (Hwunumetse’)

Wood, pigment, leather, beads, metal
ca. 20th century
Height: 6 in; Width: 2 in
Idiophone – Struck – Indirectly (Rattle)

Signed on handle

A hand carved rattle in the shape of a Tináa (Copper Shield) by Salish Master and Elder Simon Charlie (1919-2005), who is also known as Hwunumetse‘.  This signed rattle has a hollow body filled inside with small pebbles.  The surface is painted with a raven on one side and a wrist cord with brass bells and glass beads are tied to the handle.  Tináa means ‘copper shield’ in the Tlingit language and is used by indigenous people to represent a ceremonial panel made of copper that were symbols of prestige.  ‘Native ‘ copper was found in the land where they lived and superficially was used by the first Nations people as a form of money and wealth when beaten into the shape of a shield.

Simon Charlie (Canadian First Nations, Cowichan Coast Salish) is a 2003 recipient of the esteemed Order of Canada for his contribution to education and preservation of his cultural heritage, its legends, and stories. In addition, Charlie received the National Centennial Medal in 1967 and the Order of British Columbia in 2001.
With a career that spanned more than 30 years, his impressive totem poles grace the galleries of the Royal B.C. Museum and the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa – and locales from Washington State to Chicago, New York, Holland, Australia, and New Zealand. His masks and artworks may be found in collections all over the globe.

Cowichan Tribes is the band government of the Cowichan, a group of Coast Salish peoples who live in the Cowichan Valley region on Vancouver Island and is the single largest First Nations band in British Columbia.