Sterling Silver Killer Whale (Orca) Pendant by Meaghan McRae (Gitxsan)

Material: Sterling silver

Dimensions: Choose between two sizes:

• 20 mm x 20 mm
• 25 mm x 25 mm

Design: 

• "A crest belonging to many different Haida Clans. Killer whale is a powerful being that lives in the Ocean realm is apart of many Haida stories." - Haida artist, Raven Thorgeirson.
• This design features a “Sgaana”, also known as orca or killer whale, which is a symbol of community, family & intelligence. Orcas travel the ocean realms in groups, further cementing their symbolism of community and togetherness. 
• It is believed that the killer whale people have an analogous society to humans under the ocean, and there is where the first totem poles & longhouses originated.
• In Haida mythology, there are many stories involving the underworld. One such story is called boy riding killer whale, which depicts a man who has to jump on the back of a killer whale to rescue his wife from the underworld.

Made by Gitxsan Artist, Meaghan McRae:

Meaghan McRae is a Gitxsan artist living and working in Vancouver, B.C. She was born in Port Moody, B.C. in 1986 and belongs to the killer whale fireweed clan. McRae attended Emily Carr University and graduated from the Jewellery Art and Design program at VCC. She has worked alongside other local Indigenous artists. 

McRae prefers to make larger, statement style pieces of jewelry and favours bold forms with high contrast stones or other added details. She works in silver, gold and copper. She specializes in hand carving wax sculpture prototypes that will be then cast in metal before being engraved. Many of her pieces are designed around the love of creating work with a more 3D base to them. She also loves to produce beaded jewelry, a skill which she has always has an appreciation for growing up beading with her Grandma Elizabeth.