BACKGROUND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 735

First Nations art and crafts are available throughout British Columbia.
Painting and woodcarving are probably the most recognized art forms of the northern
West Coast tribes. Throughout British Columbia—in museums and people's homes, out-
doors, and of course in all the shops—you can see brightly colored carved totems, canoes,
paddles, fantastic masks, and ceremonial rattles, feast dishes, bowls, and spoons. Fabulous
designs, many featuring animals or mythical legends, are also painstakingly painted in
bright primary colors on paper. You can buy limited-edition, high-quality prints of these
paintings at many Indian craft outlets. They are more reasonable in cost than carvings, yet
just as stunning when effectively framed.
Basketry comes in a variety of styles and materials. Watch for decorative cedar-root
(fairly rare) and cedar-bark baskets, still made on the west coast of Vancouver Island;
spruce-root baskets from the Haida Gwaii; and beautiful, functional, birch-bark baskets
from the Hazelton area, between Prince George and Prince Rupert.
Beaded and fringed m occasins, jackets, vests, and gloves are available at most craft
outlets. And all outdoor types should consider forking out for a heavy, water-resistant, raw-
sheep-wool sweater; they're generally white or gray with a black design, much in demand
because they're warm, good in the rain, rugged, and last longer than one lifetime. One of the