I N T R O D U C I N G . . .
INDIGENOUS SHINY PINS
100% DESIGNED in Canada BY OJIBWE ARTIST AND CNC MACHINIST SPECIALIST
DAVID BEAUCAGE JOHNSON
A die is machined with the Indigenous design of the bird, animal or fish. The die will be used to make an impression in a copper disk which is the base for the pin. Copper is sacred to Indigenous peoples and has been in use by the Ojibwe for almost 7000 years. It was important for me to use Copper for that reason, but also the copper is one of the softer metals and it is easier to mint the design. Once an impression has been made in the Copper, enamel colours are added by hand and are then baked. After the colours have been set, the surface of the Copper is polished to make it smooth for gold plating. The plating sticks to any exposed copper part of the pin. Parts that have been coloured with enamel remain unplated.
The designs themsellves are a blend of contemporary art and ancient indigenous art as observed in Petroglyphs and Pictographs across Turtle Island (North America). Each of the bird, animal or fish designs are associated with symbolism as described below.
BEAR SYMBOLISM:
THE BEAR IS ASSOCIATED WITH PROTECTION OF LAWS AND KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINE
BEAVER SYMBOLISM:
tHE BEAVER IS INDUSTRIOUS & TENACITY. IT USES IT’S GIFTS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
BUFFALO sYMBOLISM:
tHE BUFFALO IS ONE OF THE PROVIDER BEINGS BUT ALSO POSSESSES STRENGTH AND DETERMINATION
CARIBOU SYMBOLISM:
THE CARIBOUS IS ONE OF THE PROVIDER BEINGS BUT IS GIFTED IN GROUP DYNAMICS
CATFISH SYMBOLISM:
tHE CATFISH IS REPRESENTATIVE OF DEPTH AND SENSITIVITY. IT IS ABLE TO PERCEIVE THOSE THINGS THAT OTHERS ARE UNABLE
CRANE SYMBOLISM:
THE CRANE CARRIES THE GIFT OF COMMUNICATION AND CLARITY OF VOICE AND THOUGHT
DEER SYMBOLISM:
tHE DEER IS A PROVIDER BEING AND HAS THE GIFT OF AGILITY AND DEXTERITY. IT IS ABLE TO EASILY ADAPT
EAGLE SYMBOLISM:
tHE EAGLE CARRIES THE GIFT OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE AND FORESIGHT
HERON SYMBOLISM:
tHE HERON IS SKILLED AT STEALTH AND HUNTING. IT WALKS CAREFULLY AND STEWARDS BALANCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT
LOON SYMBOLISM:
tHE LOON IS AN ANCIENT BIRD THAT IS RESPONSIBLE TO KEEP THE OLDEST TEACHINGS AND SONGS ALIVE AND RELEVANT
LYNX SYMBOLISM: tHE LYNX IS A MAGICAL BEING THAT EXISTS IN THE AREA OF THE NATURAL WORLD THAT ALMOST TOUCHES THE SPIRIT WORLD. iT LISTENS FOR GUIDANCE FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD
MARTEN SYMBOLISM: tHE MARTEN STANDS AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN DIFFERENT PEOPLES. IT ALSO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADOPTION IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
OTTER SYMBOLISM:
oTTERS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR STORYTELLING THROUGH HUMOUR AND GUIDING WAYS OF LIFE THROUGH PLAYFULNESS
OWL SYMBOLISM:
oWLS EYES SEE BOTH THE PHYSICAL NATURAL WORLD AND THE SPIRIT WORLD. THEY CAN CARRY MESSAGES BETWEEN BOTH WORLDS
PIKE SYMBOLISM:
tHE PIKE INTRODUCES CHANGE BOLDLY AND WITHOUT FEAR. IT CARRIES THE STRENGTH AND TACT TO ACCOMPLISH CHANGE SEAMLESSLY
RAVEN SYMBOLISM:
rAVEN IS GIFTED WITH INTELLIGENCE WHICH CREATES A DICHOTOMY WHERE IT CAN CREATE PROBLEMS FOR US TO LEARN FROM BUT IS ALSO AN EXCELLENT PROBLEM SOLVER ITSELF
STURGEON SYMBOLISM:
STURGEON IS AN ANCIENT FISH TASKED WITH KEEPING THE OLD WAYS OF LOOKING AFTER THE WATER AND KEEPING THEM PURE FROM MODERN INFLUENCES
SWAN SYMBOLISM:
sWAN’S GIFTS ARE STRENGTH, GENTLENESS AND MENTORSHIP WHICH PROVIDES A MODEL FOR NURTURING THE YOUNG
TURTLE SYMBOLISM:
tURTLE IS A METAPHOR FOR THE EARTH. THEY POSSESS THE KNOWLEDGE FOR CARING FOR AND UNDERSTANDING THE EARTH
WOLF SYMBOLISM:
THE WOLF IS A MODEL FOR THE PERFECT TEACHER. THE TEACHER LIVES AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO LIVE AND HOW TO GET ALONG WITH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
BACK OF PIN
tHE pINS ARE SUBSTANTIAL IN SIZE TO CAPTURE THE DETAIL OF THE IMAGES
