Ancestral Framing Earring

The Ancestral Framing Earring is inspired by the rich heritage of the Ahousaht Nation and our traditional adornment practices. This design is rooted in the intricate motifs of the hinkits serpent headdress, with the framing patterns symbolizing our enduring connection to ancestral stories and the natural world. Made from cedar wood, these earrings hold the spirit of the land, connecting us to our creation stories and the powerful helpers of the Thunderbird, who hunts with the lightning strike serpents.
In the center, I’ve placed an Akoya or abalone shell button—a nod to the adornments traditionally used on our blankets and clothing. These shell buttons evolved with history; they were once sacred pieces of our regalia and later took on new shapes introduced through colonial contact. Today, we honor this blend of the past and present by using similar adornments on our shawls and button blankets.
These earrings are earthy and grounding, a reminder of our place in the natural world and the powerful stories of our ancestors. Each piece carries the legacy of resilience, beauty, and the intricate artistry that has been passed down through generations.

Size: 4 inches long, 3 inches wide
Material: cedar, abalone shell button
Hardware: silver-finished stainless steel or brass

Ğiáxsix̌a for supporting Copper Canoe Woman! We want to give you some tips on caring for your pieces to help ensure that you’ll be able to wear it for the years to come.

​Care Tips:

• Please treat your jewelry with care. We don’t recommend storing your jewelry in a bag/purse, unless it’s wrapped in fabric, tucked into a small jewelry bag/roll, or in it’s original packaging.
• ​Take care when putting on jackets, purses, and bags so your jewelry doesn’t snag.
• ​Try not to let your jewelry get wet, please remove before showering or swimming. Water can damage the findings, and other metal parts of our jewelry.
• ​Put your jewelry on as a finishing touch. Perfumes, sunscreens, bug sprays and various skincare products can cause discoloration or a change in texture of any acrylic pieces in the jewelry.
• ​Avoid leaving your jewelry in the bathroom, or other humid environments. Humidity causes metal to tarnish.
• ​To clean the acrylic pieces, a microfiber cloth (and a little bit of water for stubborn marks) will leave them looking brand new.
• ​To clean brass pieces we suggest mild soap and water, or a non-abrasive jewelry cleaner. Please make sure that your brass jewelry is completely dried to avoid tarnishing.
• ​Please do not use any products that contain alcohol to clean your jewelry as it can damage the finish.

​If you have any other questions, please contact us! We’re happy to help.