Raven / Find Your Light Inspirational Wristband by Terry Starr

NATIVE NORTHWEST ART BY INDIGENOUS ARTISTS

Statement of Respect and Authenticity

We believe that Indigenous artists should be treated fairly and with respect. Authenticity of art, design, and culture is the foundation of our mission of building everyday connection to Indigenous cultures.

Native Northwest products are guided by the following five principles:

• 100% of the art featured on every Native Northwest product is designed by Indigenous artists

• All artists have provided consent and contractual permission for their art to be featured on Native Northwest products

• Artist names are acknowledged on all product packaging

• Cultural traditions are honoured by acknowledging cultural affiliation on product packaging

• Artists are paid in fees and royalties

Terry Starr: A Legacy of Tsimshian Artistry

Terry Starr, born in 1951, is a celebrated contemporary Indigenous artist from the Gispax Laats tribe, Eagle Clan of the Tsimshian Nation. His artistic journey began in 1982, deeply influenced by the rich cultural traditions of his home villages, Kitsumkalum and Lax Kw'alaams, British Columbia. Though he didn't receive formal art training, Starr gained invaluable guidance from renowned artists Richard Hunt and Tim Paul at the Royal British Columbia Museum in 1984, which profoundly shaped his carving techniques.

Starr is widely recognized for his masterful carvings of masks and totem poles, known for their traditional pigments and distinctive Tsimshian form lines. A unique aspect of his masks is the intentional partial painting, which allows the natural fluidity and grain of the wood to remain visible. A significant highlight of his career includes the construction of two full-scale traditional Tsimshian bighouses: one for the Canadian Museum of Civilization (now the Canadian Museum of History) in Gatineau, Quebec, and another for his home village, where he also mentored other carvers.

In addition to his carving and painting, Starr is an esteemed printmaker and has expanded his skills to include jewellery, completing Vancouver's Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts program in 2009. His powerful artistry has been featured in numerous exhibitions across North America and is held in various prominent collections, underscoring his vital role in preserving and revitalizing Indigenous artistic traditions.