Raven Publishing Inc. - Canada

12/21/2025

Contemporary Pacific NW coast Potlatch Story

In the contemporary Pacific NW coast Potlatch story published by Raven Publishing Inc., “Welcome Family and Friends to Our Bighouse,” talented First Nations author Nella Nelson bases her story on her experiences at Potlatches throughout her life. Depicted throughout the book in her traditional First Nations (Indigenous) regalia and also in her contemporary clothes, author Nella Nelson plays the role of mother in the story.

We welcome readers to experience the Pacific Northwest Coast traditional Indigenous business and also ceremonies of the Potlatch. Here, family, friends and guests do not bring or give gifts. Every witness to the wedding, naming, memorial, birth, listing of family connections and rights, story-telling or history-telling ceremonies leaves with a gift from the family that asks them to remember the detailed story of this particular Potlatch. Taking place today as it did in ages past, the Potlatch is held under a roof that can shelter up to 800 people - in the Bighouse.

Over a period of two or three days, story-telling, dancing, singing, drumming and speeches with participants wearing the traditional regalia of cedar bark or button blankets and huge carved cedar masks weave the ancient and modern stories into the minds and hearts of the people who are asked to witness. Told through the impressions of the young daughter of the family holding the Potlatch, the story contains accurate colour drawings and painted photos of a modern-day Potlatch that takes place on a small island off the coast of British Columbia in the town of Alert Bay, BC.

This contemporary Pacific NW coast Potlatch story is based on historical traditions. Nella says, “In essence, the teachings (of the Bighouse) provide the conduit for our people to reach back into the origin of time to conduct our sacred and traditional ceremonies related to the stages of life: birth, puberty, marriage, death, naming, and transferring of rights and privileges.

The teachings of her ancestors are alive today, so she (Gana) learns that she must always be aware that her conduct must support and reflect well on her family and community. The teachings she learns in the Bighouse are useful to Gana in her everyday life and continue to have value in the 21st century.”

Similar ceremonies are held from Alaska to British Columbia to Washington State and Oregon with regalia and stories unique to each Tribe and Band. Come on an adventure to a traditional Indigenous world in a modern time as you witness history in the making. Bring the whole family and all your friends to “Welcome Family and Friends to Our Bighouse!”

12/21/2025

Contemporary Pacific NW coast Potlatch story
In the contemporary Pacific NW coast Potlatch story published by Raven Publishing Inc., “Welcome Family and Friends to Our Bighouse,” talented First Nations author Nella Nelson bases her story on her experiences at Potlatches throughout her life. Depicted throughout the book in her traditional First Nations (Indigenous) regalia and also in her contemporary clothes, author Nella Nelson plays the role of mother in the story.
We welcome readers to experience the Pacific Northwest Coast traditional Indigenous business and also ceremonies of the Potlatch. Here, family, friends and guests do not bring or give gifts. Every witness to the wedding, naming, memorial, birth, listing of family connections and rights, story-telling or history-telling ceremonies leaves with a gift from the family that asks them to remember the detailed story of this particular Potlatch. Taking place today as it did in ages past, the Potlatch is held under a roof that can shelter up to 800 people - in the Bighouse.
Over a period of two or three days, story-telling, dancing, singing, drumming and speeches with participants wearing the traditional regalia of cedar bark or button blankets and huge carved cedar masks weave the ancient and modern stories into the minds and hearts of the people who are asked to witness. Told through the impressions of the young daughter of the family holding the Potlatch, the story contains accurate colour drawings and painted photos of a modern-day Potlatch that takes place on a small island off the coast of British Columbia in the town of Alert Bay, BC.
This contemporary Pacific NW coast Potlatch story is based on historical traditions. Nella says, “In essence, the teachings (of the Bighouse) provide the conduit for our people to reach back into the origin of time to conduct our sacred and traditional ceremonies related to the stages of life: birth, puberty, marriage, death, naming, and transferring of rights and privileges.
The teachings of her ancestors are alive today, so she (Gana) learns that she must always be aware that her conduct must support and reflect well on her family and community. The teachings she learns in the Bighouse are useful to Gana in her everyday life and continue to have value in the 21st century.”
Similar ceremonies are held from Alaska to British Columbia to Washington State and Oregon with regalia and stories unique to each Tribe and Band. Come on an adventure to a traditional Indigenous world in a modern time as you witness history in the making. Bring the whole family and all your friends to “Welcome Family and Friends to Our Bighouse!”

05/03/2022

It takes time to “get” an art topic or practice that’s so complex and offers so much variation. Here’s a short post to help you develop your eye for some common mistakes you might see in ovoids and split U forms (mid-coast style) as beginners start to learn the symmetry of the art.

Beginners in Pacific Northwest Coast Art styles often overlook one basic principle. In this blog, you'll learn what that principle is and you'll see some common beginner examples of ovoid and U shape mistakes.

04/09/2022

Have you seen some of our customers’ artwork? It’s amazing to see what people create when they’re empowered with the knowledge and the resources.

Raven Publishing customers share their Northwest Coast Art-style artwork From wood carvings and painted paddles to quilting and glasswork, our customers’ artwork spans many different mediums! Over the years, we’ve seen artists, art students, and craftspeople use our ‘Learning By’ Series of b...

03/04/2022

Before we did a major overhaul of Raven Publishing’s website, the following excerpt was on our homepage. It shows our endless gratitude to and acknowledgement of our family and friends and the First Nations artists and colleagues who informed the knowledge and designs in our books about PNW Coast art. Check it out here:

An excerpt from one of our first books Learning by Designing: Pacific Northwest Coast Native Indian Art, Volume 1. Before we did a major overhaul of Raven Publishing’s website, the following excerpt was on our homepage. It was there for a reason. This excerpt shows our endless gratitude to and ack...

03/03/2022

Can you identify the basic building blocks in Pacific Northwest Art? Use this guide to understand how artists working in this style use and modify fundamental formline art principles, elements, and shapes to create their West Coast style art pieces.

When you look at Pacific Northwest Coast formline art, can you identify the basic building blocks the artist used? After reading this, you should be able to look at Native American art of the Pacific Northwest coast and notice how the artist used and modified fundamental formline art principles, ele...

09/07/2021

Do you have a copy of our best seller?

"Learning by Designing, Volume 1" is a reference and instruction manual with a detailed, thoroughly analyzed, well-supported comparison of four Pacific Northwest Coast First Nations art styles.

Topics cover design formline, ovoids, U shapes, S shapes, heads, body parts, and design formation, as well as a step-by-step "how to draw section." It includes 800 clear, detailed illustrations accompanied by straightforward copy.

By Jim Gilbert and Karin Clark Learn Pacific Northwest Coast native formline art, step-by-step, with this comprehensive guidebook, including "how to draw" sections. Plan out traditional formline drawings and create meaningful, original designs. Save hours of researching online with well-researched c...

09/07/2021

"Learning by Designing Volume 2" (a companion to Volume 1) puts Pacific Northwest Coast art into deeper cultural context.

The book includes indigenous philosophy, knowledge, and skills foundation, a code of ethics, and interviews with First Nations community members Ruth Cook, George Cook, Nella Nelson, and Wedlidi Speck, as well as some aspects of historical context and a description of the Potlatch.

Volume 2 includes a full colour, 16-page creation story "In the Beginning there was the First World." Additional topics include contemporary design evolution with 50 examples, 20 designs to draw and pain, and a Quick Reference Chart containing over 100 designs!

By Jim Gilbert and Karin Clark Learn by designing Pacific Northwest Coast native formline art with this comprehensive guide book (a companion book to Volume 1). Plan out traditional formline drawings and create meaningful, original designs. Save hours of researching online with well-researched cultu...

09/06/2021

"Learning by Doing" is a great book for teachers, artists, students, collectors and anyone interested in Pacific Northwest Coast Indigenous art and culture.

The book includes step-by-step instructions and 15 educationally based concepts arranged from simple to complex with each step building on the previous. You'll find over 300 black and white detailed illustrations and 32 photos to enhance and clarify the straightforward instructions.

Click the link below for a book preview and the full table of contents!

By Karin Clark and Jim Gilbert Learn Pacific Northwest Coast formline art with step-by-step instructions on how to draw, design, paint and carve in the PNW art style. Plan out traditional formline drawings and create meaningful, original designs. Save hours of researching online with well-researched...

09/06/2021

Written by Nella Nelson and illustrated by Karin Clark, this book is about a young girl's experience with her family's p`asa (Potlach).

The Potlatch (traditional First Nations business) and the Winter Ceremonies are the vehicles for cultural connections all along the Coast. Our story-teller, Gana, explains, “My family has been planning this p`asa (Potlatch) for years and saving to buy gifts for our guests. In some ways, the p`asa is a lot like a party but instead of people bringing us gifts, we give gifts to everyone who comes. There are songs, dances, plays, and stories. But also, there are marriages, funerals, naming ceremonies, birth announcements, re-telling of our histories, reminders of our culture, wearing the outfits that our ancestors wore, showing and giving away blankets, large pieces of copper, tools, canoes, jewellery, masks, food, toys and other gifts. The family asks everyone who comes to remember everything they saw. That’s what the gifts are for. They are a kind of payment to remember. This custom comes from a time when my people didn’t write things down to remember them. People had very good memories. They told important facts and stories to their kids and their kid’s kids. Nowadays, I can read facts and stories in books, see them on DVD and movies, as well as hearing about them from my elders."

Written by Nella Nelson Illustrated by Karin Clark Description Along the Pacific Northwest Coast, from Alaska through British Columbia to Washington, there are several related, yet diverse, aboriginal cultures (First Nations). Prior to contact with Europeans, these peoples had developed complex soci...