Born in 1948, Cheryl Samuel has spent most of her life in the Northwest
Coast with much travel time devoted to the study of indigenous weaving
techniques. Cheryl has been teaching and creating weavings in both
Ravenstail and Chilkat designs for more than thirty years. She is respected
as an author on these ancient northern weaving techniques and has weavings
in many important public and private collections both nationally and
internationally. The design for the back rest of the Chancellor's Chair is
classic Eagle design of Chilkat style. The shape of the weaving is that of a
"Copper", the symbol of high status and wealth in Northwest Coast cultures.
Eagle Chief is depicted in traditional Tlingit formline and acts as a focal
point for all the Eagle references throughout the ceremonial furniture.