Coast Salish Spindle Whorl

A spindle whorl is a stone disc that serves as a weight to maintain the momentum of a spindle in a spinning wheel. This one, carved out of Canadian red cedar by indigenous artist Susan A. Point, is a mammoth example that represents the art of the Coast Salish, a First Nations tribe. Part of Vancouver International Airport's expansive public art homage to its native people, the Inuit and Métis cultures, the whorl greets visitors at the entrance to the Canada Customs hall.