Bentwood Box 1
Artifact
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Video
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Activities
LOOK
Look carefully at this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box). What do you think it’s made of? What do you think its purpose is? Verify your answers by reading the historical context below.
THINK
Moments in history and objects are considered historically significant if they result in change, reveal something important about history or occupy a meaningful place in the historical narrative. Look at this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) and read about its historical context. Explain why you think it is historically significant.
Details
Date 1901 or earlier
Materials - Cedar
- Metal
- Sinew
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single piece of wood.
- Tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) serve many purposes, including storage.
- This box was used to store taw (eulachon (fish) oil or grease). This oil is a very important food source and trade item among Indigenous nations on the Northwest Coast.
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single piece of wood. They feature an animal crest figure carved in formline design.
Tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) serve many purposes. This one was used to store taw (eulachon (fish) oil or grease). Eulachon oil is a very important food source, preservative and trade item on the Northwest Coast.
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single piece of wood. They feature an animal crest carved in formline design. The rights to crest designs are inherited, and their use denotes the identity and status of the owner.
Tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) serve many purposes. This one was used to store rendered taw (eulachon oil or grease), and the wood is still saturated with it.
The saaw (eulachon) is a small, silvery schooling fish that yields a highly nutritious and flavourful oil when properly processed. Historically, the oil was such a prized commodity that trade routes to the BC interior to collect it were known as “grease trails.” Taw (eulachon oil) is still culturally important for Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast, including Haida people.
- The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single piece of wood.
- Tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) serve many purposes, including storage.
- This box was used to store taw (eulachon (fish) oil or grease). This oil is a very important food source and trade item among Indigenous nations on the Northwest Coast.
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single piece of wood. They feature an animal crest figure carved in formline design.
Tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) serve many purposes. This one was used to store taw (eulachon (fish) oil or grease). Eulachon oil is a very important food source, preservative and trade item on the Northwest Coast.
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single piece of wood. They feature an animal crest carved in formline design. The rights to crest designs are inherited, and their use denotes the identity and status of the owner.
Tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) serve many purposes. This one was used to store rendered taw (eulachon oil or grease), and the wood is still saturated with it.
The saaw (eulachon) is a small, silvery schooling fish that yields a highly nutritious and flavourful oil when properly processed. Historically, the oil was such a prized commodity that trade routes to the BC interior to collect it were known as “grease trails.” Taw (eulachon oil) is still culturally important for Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast, including Haida people.
Summary
- The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single piece of wood.
- Tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) serve many purposes, including storage.
- This box was used to store taw (eulachon (fish) oil or grease). This oil is a very important food source and trade item among Indigenous nations on the Northwest Coast.
Essential
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single piece of wood. They feature an animal crest figure carved in formline design.
Tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) serve many purposes. This one was used to store taw (eulachon (fish) oil or grease). Eulachon oil is a very important food source, preservative and trade item on the Northwest Coast.
In-Depth
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single piece of wood. They feature an animal crest carved in formline design. The rights to crest designs are inherited, and their use denotes the identity and status of the owner.
Tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) serve many purposes. This one was used to store rendered taw (eulachon oil or grease), and the wood is still saturated with it.
The saaw (eulachon) is a small, silvery schooling fish that yields a highly nutritious and flavourful oil when properly processed. Historically, the oil was such a prized commodity that trade routes to the BC interior to collect it were known as “grease trails.” Taw (eulachon oil) is still culturally important for Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast, including Haida people.