" 
 :I never heard the thing about Skwxwu7mesh winning it.  It came about through the rise of the tourism industry.  We used to joke that ""Squamish"" translated to ""People of the Plaque Makers"".  It's quite sad really, and I find myself conflicted.  See, within Kwakwaka'wakw art, you don't just do the art.  Your supposed to be trained in that field to understand what you do.  It's less of an art when you really get into it, as in ""expression"" and ""artists creativity"".  Like, ""Oh, the sun is inspiring to do a mask like this, and maybe I'll throw this in there"".  No.  It would not of been like that.  Certain elements or designs would be there for a reason, it was a strict discipline.  A strict discipline pulled of respectfully was the art form.  But the spread of modern tools, and the advent of ""Native Loving Tourists"", Northwest Coast art became the hot thing.  Thus, so many southerns learned and started selling art work that didn't come from their people.   It's appropriate, for sure.  But sadly accepted on a lot of levels, untill a certain point sometimes though.  We may not change the mind of the older adults who already do art work and think it's Coast Salish, but with the young people, who we will teach what is our artwork.  That's why I undertake the learning of Coast Salish art.  I have the right to learn Kwakwaka'wakw art and maybe one day I will.    "