Note on Attributions

Research into the diverse styles of painting on the Northwest Coast is ongoing through the work of artists and other scholars. Addressing the lack of detailed and reliable collection data accompanying many historical objects and belongings in museums remains a critical challenge for questions of provenance and attribution.

The attributions to specific First Nations that accompany the photographs on this site are sometimes certain, often tentative, and many are open to re-evaluation. The same is true for attributions in the book The Transforming Image: Painted Arts of the Northwest Coast First Nations. Attempts to determine the origins of particular works remain the subject of debate, as artists and scholars continue to build knowledge about the history of regional styles of painting in relation to trade and other networks of exchange. 

It is our hope that this site, with the access to images it provides, will encourage comparative study and contribute to a vital and still transforming conversation.