Indigenous Handcrafted Earrings - Toho beaded & Dentalium Shells

• 18k Gold Plated hooks
  
• Toho Beads
• Dentalium Shells

Dentalium shell: It is clearly significant to the traditional economy of indigenous peoples, since one of its names literally means “true money,” and it was traded far beyond the coast where it is harvested. Tooth shells or tusk shells used in indigenous jewelry, adornment, and commerce. Shells of the species Antalis pretiosa which had been gathered on the shores of Vancouver Island were first traded to the Canadian Plateau between 1000 and 1 BCE. Nuu-chah-nulth peoples were the primary harvesters of dentalium shells. Among the Northwest Coastal tribes, the shells were valued for both trade and adornment. Young Nuu-chah-nulth girls of high status wore elaborate dentalium jewelry. When the jewelry was removed, a potlatch was held to celebrate and the girl would be considered eligible for marriage.