4. Wabanaki

This is the Wabanaki tribal reveal of a birch bark canoe and is decorated with double curve symbolism by Maliseet tribal member and visual artist Mihku Paul. Paul painted the Wabanaki double curve, the oldest known decorative motif of the Maliseet people, as part of the birch bark canoe reveal. Click HERE To learn more about Paul

Found in Wabanaki art and craft, traditional art of the Indigenous people of northeastern North America.

A stylized S-shaped curve often used as a decorative element in baskets, beadwork, quillwork, and other crafts. The double curve is created by two parallel lines that curve in opposite directions, forming two loops that face each other. This design is often repeated in a series to create a pattern.

The double curve is a significant symbol in Wabanaki culture and has various meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. It is often associated with the natural world and represents the flow of water, fish movement, and clouds' shape. It is also believed to symbolize the interconnectedness of all things, the cyclical nature of life, and the balance between opposites, such as light and dark.

Today, the Wabanaki double curve remains an essential part of Wabanaki art and craft, and it is often used as a way to connect with and honor cultural heritage. For a trained eye, double curve motifs have distinctive curves that correlate with certain tribes.