Raven and Eagle Head Earrings

The most important of all creatures to the Northwest coast Indian peoples was the Raven. He took many forms to many peoples -- the Transformer, the cultural hero, the trickster, the Big Man. Full of magical powers, the Raven could transform himself into anything. He put the sun in the sky, the fish in the sea, the salmon into the rivers. His antics were often motivated by greed, and he loved to tease, to cheat, to woo, and to trick.

The Eagle is one of the most powerful and important symbols in Pacific Northwest Indian art and life. Eagle down, a symbol of peace and friendship, was sprinkled before guests in welcome dances and on other ceremonial occasions; eagle feathers were used in many rituals and worn on masks, headdresses and dance aprons.

Haida and Tlingit Indians have two main clans, the Eagles and the Ravens. Traditionally, members of the same clan cannot marry, so marriages typically signify the joining of an eagle to a raven. Eagle and Raven, when linked together, are consequently known as the Lovebirds. The Lovebirds are a popular design for items such as bracelets and rings, given as gifts between couples of these clans.