The Haida Ghostface Necklace is a striking handwoven piece, dyed with the luminous yellow-green of wolf moss (Letharia vulpina). Created by Haida artist Ariane Xay Kuyaas Medley, the necklace reflects both ancestral practice and living tradition, rooted in the Haida Gwaii Archipelago—homeland of the Indigenous Haida people of the Pacific Northwest.
Wolf moss, gathered from local conifers, has long been used in Haida weaving as a natural dye. Its radiant hue infuses garments and regalia with color drawn directly from the forest. Ariane continues this practice, blending cultural heritage with contemporary artistry.
We first encountered Haida art during our years in Seattle, where totem poles, spruce-root baskets, and woven red-and-black regalia filled us with awe. Learning that wolf moss still plays a role in Haida weaving, we sought out Ariane, who created this necklace for us. Her mother, Alice Montjoy, also created wolf moss-dyed headbands for our Moss Collection, a collaboration rooted in intergenerational artistry.
About the Artist:
Ariane Xay Kuyaas Medley (Precious Weaver) is a Haida artist from Old Massett Village on Haida Gwaii. A member of the Yaghujaanaas Raven clan, she comes from a distinguished line of Haida weavers. Ariane harvests and prepares her own weaving materials and works in both spruce-root and wool textiles.
Origin: Haida Gwaii Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada
Materials: Wolf moss-dyed wool and cotton thread; stained walnut, shadow box frame with archival mounting and UV-protective glass
Dimensions: Face is 8 in x 3.75 in (20.25 cm x 9.5 cm); ties are 11 in (28 cm); Frame is 19 in x 11.5 in x 2 in (48.25 cm x 29 cm x 5 cm)
Weight: 2.5 lbs (1 kg)
The Haida Ghostface Necklace is a striking handwoven piece, dyed with the luminous yellow-green of wolf moss (Letharia vulpina). Created by Haida artist Ariane Xay Kuyaas Medley, the necklace reflects both ancestral practice and living tradition, rooted in the Haida Gwaii Archipelago—homeland of the Indigenous Haida people of the Pacific Northwest.
Wolf moss, gathered from local conifers, has long been used in Haida weaving as a natural dye. Its radiant hue infuses garments and regalia with color drawn directly from the forest. Ariane continues this practice, blending cultural heritage with contemporary artistry.
We first encountered Haida art during our years in Seattle, where totem poles, spruce-root baskets, and woven red-and-black regalia filled us with awe. Learning that wolf moss still plays a role in Haida weaving, we sought out Ariane, who created this necklace for us. Her mother, Alice Montjoy, also created wolf moss-dyed headbands for our Moss Collection, a collaboration rooted in intergenerational artistry.
About the Artist:
Ariane Xay Kuyaas Medley (Precious Weaver) is a Haida artist from Old Massett Village on Haida Gwaii. A member of the Yaghujaanaas Raven clan, she comes from a distinguished line of Haida weavers. Ariane harvests and prepares her own weaving materials and works in both spruce-root and wool textiles.
Origin: Haida Gwaii Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada
Materials: Wolf moss-dyed wool and cotton thread; stained walnut, shadow box frame with archival mounting and UV-protective glass
Dimensions: Face is 8 in x 3.75 in (20.25 cm x 9.5 cm); ties are 11 in (28 cm); Frame is 19 in x 11.5 in x 2 in (48.25 cm x 29 cm x 5 cm)
Weight: 2.5 lbs (1 kg)
