"In the 1780’s, French explorer La Peruse visited the Yakutat area. At the same time, Marie Antoinette was queen in France. I’m interested in exploring the early French connection and the questions it raises. One of the visible signs of this visit is that there are still French words today incorporated in the Tlingit language. The paddle is called “Raven Discovers Macarons” and is Raven in a Marie Antoinette-style pouf wig diving into a pile of macarons."