"Sealife" Bandana

In Tlingit tradition, each person is born into one of two “moieties” – a Raven or an Eagle, which are always inherited from a person’s mother. Each moiety is further subdivided into clans, and each clan is subdivided into houses – all of which serve as vital identification for a Tlingit person. As Crystal explains, "As people of the tide, Tlingit people and Alaskan native people, we don’t differentiate ourselves from animals. We are one of the same." Along with the Raven and Eagle, Crystal’s design pays homage to the Killer Whale, Salmon, and Frog - which are all identifying animals within the Kinship. The balance and interplay of the animals in the design is inspired by the inherent interdependence of these moieties and clans, and by the Tlingit ritual known as Ku.eex or Potlach. Ku.eex are community gatherings of great importance, centered around honoring the dead and memorializing ancestral experiences through dancing, singing, feasting, and speeches. In addition, a fundamental prac