North Star and Sky Serpent Panel by Greg A. Robinson, Chinook Nation

North Star and Sky Serpent Panel, 2024by Greg A. Robinson, Chinook Nationred cedar, abalone inlay25” high x 35” wide x 1.5” deep The central figure of this panel represents North Star. North Star is surrounded by her relatives, represented as moons in their seasonal phases. Through the eyes of North Star we see its tamanawas (spirit power) represented as the Sky Serpent. Two powerful water serpents encircle North Star’s face. The central zig zag pattern running horizontally divides the human realm (above) and the spirit realm (below). The Chinook believe the world under the surface of the Columbia River is the spirit world of their ancestors where nothing makes sense to humans. The triangle cut designs represent fishing nets, and is a common pattern used in most all of Greg’s carvings.   The Chinook Indian Nation is a confederation of the five most western tribes, the Lower Chinook, Clatsop, Willapa, Wahkiakum and Cathlamet located in SW Washington State near the mouth of the Columbia