Week 5 Blog –
The Chinook individuals valued art that was made out of animal horn and wood. They used animal horns to create bowls with intricate geometric patterns or shapes of animals. Other traditional art pieces were made out of ropes that they made from tree roots. These ropes were twisted together to form baskets. The baskets normally had patterns to mimic teeth or waves. The Chinook individuals also had representations of animals and humans in their art. This was specifically found in the creation of sculptures which were normally made out of animal products such as antlers or bone.
Works of Art for the Chinooks was representative of what the tribe found important and their art also served a useful purpose. Bowls were used for serving food and baskets to hold food during harvest.
An artist that has begun to revitalize traditional Chinook Art is Greg A. Robinson. An example of his art can be found to the right. Also, here is a very interesting video about Greg’s recent artwork and his continued attempt to help the community learn traditional artwork. In participating in art many individuals are able to reconnect to their culture and heal some of the trauma they have experienced throughout the oppression forced upon them from the arrival of the Europeans.
Another artist practicing today is the Tribal Chairman Tony A. Johnson of the Chinook Tribe. Kingfishers is a piece that was completed by Johnson and can be found at Portland State University.
Art is definitely an aspect of identity and power that has allowed Chinook individuals to reconnect to their culture. Chinook individuals are doing all that they can to assure that this very important aspect of their culture is not forgotten.
Resources:
Handbook of North American Indians Vol. 7. Wayne Suttles, Volume Editor. Smithsonian Institution. Washington. Chapter Chinookans of the Lower Columbia written by Michael Silverstein.
Ruby, R. H., Brown, J. A., Collins, C. C., Kinkade, M. D., & O’Neill, S. (2010). A guide to the Indian tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press
Chinook Indian Nation 
I think it’s really cool that the Chinook Indians used antlers and bones to make things such as bowls and sculptures. Did they not have access to materials to make clay ceramics? I would imagine that making sculptures and bowls out of clay would be easier. Additionally, you mentioned that art was an aspect of identity which I completely agree with. After reading multiple blogs it seems that each Native Indian tribe had their own unique art style.
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I find it very interesting they used bones and antlers. They must have taken a lot of time to make things out of. I remember making an arrow head when I was a kid out of rock and that took a long while to make. With art work I believe reconnecting to your ancestors would be very possible given that each symbols carved or painted meant something and stood for something.
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Thanks for posting the video with Greg Robinson. It was very interesting and also uplifting because he’s not only working to keep the Chinook art alive but also hosting art and culture classes. If looks like he’s really helping modern day Chinook reconnect with their past.
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I love that the Kingfishers carving is at a university, it shows that people support the native community by displaying their art. My family buys a lot of the local natives artwork to help support not only the person but the native art community. My dad being a native artist said one of the ways his artwork was ever even noticed was when gave a few away and people saw them displayed in friends houses, then more and more people were asking him to make custom pieces for their homes.
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Very interesting discussion on the modern use of Chinook art in expressing the fight with oppression. In many modern cultures, art is used in the same way, and for many artists, this is the sole purpose of their work. Did Chinook art represent any kind of political or social power?
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The talent of the Native American peoples is incredible to me! Especially the early Natives who did not have as many tools or resources readily available, such as paint. What is almost more impressive was that they not only carved images of people and animals, but they did it with their own style in such a creative and unique way. Their art wasn’t just a replica of the animal or person it was their interpretation of them.
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I think the Indians finding a resource, such as tree root, to make art is amazing. I wonder how the chose the tree root, and how they collected them. Native American art compared to modern art is very interesting in what they wanted to project to the community.
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