The compelling power of Northwest Coast art，both his—toric and contemporary，has made the First Nations artistswho create it kn0WII and respected throughout the world．The power of tim art comes from deep roots in an ancientculture that iS rich irl ceremonial and aesthetic traditions．But the art was not nrade for the sake of art alone．Forpeople without a written language，art served，together withoral traditions，as a means of transmitting stories，history，wisdom and property from generation to generation．Artalso provides people with a tie to tire land．as by depictingtheir histories，it is a constant reminder of the birthplacesof lineages and nations．From this rich historical base．thecontemporary art--immediately recognizable and a distinctemblem of the people—continues to flourish both in itsoriginal cultural context and in the international art world．