Feather cases are created to hold feathers, specifically eagle, raven, or owl, and they are often gifted. Eagle feathers are one of the most sacred items to receive as a gift, in many Indigenous cultures, because of the power they hold and convey.

This series of cases depict an array of Yukon flora, including the birch tree, subalpine fir tree, fireweed, and lupin. The birch tree represents winter, north, and holds the largest eagle feather. I have a special relationship with birch bark because I process it and use it in my art. My family has a long history with birch in the way of basket and canoe making. The subalpine fir represents fall, west, and the familiarity of home. Subalpine firs are a predominant tree within the Yukon and grow in abundance around my community Tthee Tsa Niik (Beaver Creek). The fireweed represents summer, south, and Mother Earth’s resiliency. In the summer of 2019, Beaver Creek saw a large forest fire engulf much of the landscape alongside the Alaska Highway. The year after saw the emergence of fireweed because they thrive in ash and decay and bring bright new life to areas devastated by fire. Finally, the lupin represents spring, east, and new birth. Several types of lupin grow in the Yukon and Alaska and they are some of the first flowers to bloom in the spring.

Image credit: Kyra Kordoski