Located in the Gulf of Alaska, Yakutat is generally regarded as the northernmost reach of the Pacific Northwest Coast culture region. But the Gulf of Alaska is also a nexus of Tlingit, Ahtna Athabaskan, Sugpiaq, and Eyak cultures that have intermarried and blended with one another there for centuries. Among the unique innovations from the region is the Yakutat-style dugout canoe, a smaller, seal hunting vessel specifically designed to cut through icy waters and stay afloat in the turbulent Gulf of Alaska. This is accomplished with the unique, forward raking bow-shaped fin on these canoes that both cuts surface ice and helps maintain stability.

This model canoe features mirrored images of Sea Lions or Seals on each side of the hull. The heads of the pinnipeds are rendered in a relatively naturalistic fashion with whiskers, eyebrows, and teeth, while their fins are composed of a series of painted split u-forms, crosshatched tertiary space, and ovoids consistent with the formline style from the period. The canoe is painted in old black, green, red, and burgundy pigments and features front and rear thwarts. Although the name of this maker is currently unknown, they were prolific in making these canoe models and it’s generally agreed by scholars and collectors that they were from the village of Yakutat.