An unusual engraved sterling silver ring set with a center cabochon design of multi cut and paired hard stones. The ring is hand engraved with designs from the Northwestern Pacific Coast First Nation artisans. Artists from this part of North America have a very recognizable and beautiful style to their work, very different from that of say the Zuni or Navajo tribes.

The patterns depicted in their works include natural forms such as bears, ravens, eagles, orcas, and humans; more mythical creatures from folklore such as thunderbirds and the sisiutl; and abstract forms made up of the characteristic Northwest Coast shapes. 

This ring appears to depict one of these mythological creatures; the sisiutls. It is typically depicted as a double-headed serpent with fish qualities, sometimes with an additional central face of a supernatural being. The sisiutl features prominently in Pacific Northwest art, dances and songs. The sisiutl is closely associated with shamans because both are seen as mediators between the natural and supernatural worlds. The word for "sisiutl" in Tsimshian is   Laqaqua'sa, which literally means "both sides head". As a transformative creature of vast shamanic power, the sisiutl could travel in and across all boundaries (worlds): land, water, & air.  There is a belief among the Coast Salish that Sisiutl employ orca for transportation