Browse Collection

Year Created

2025

Year Acquired

2026

Keywords

Indigenous

Surfaces

Metal

Cultures

Indigenous

Medium

Copper, Silver

Art Forms

Sculpture

Eci-Pekunsis

by: Shane Perley-Dutcher

This work is part of a collection of metal baskets inspired by the clay pointed pots made by the Wolastoq people and other Wabanaki tribes. Pre-contact, pottery was made to meet the environment they lived in. living in an environment with no flat grounds, made the pointed pot/bottom very useful to carry food, medicine and water. 

Transferring this into metal was very challenging but visually appealing as a work of art. Two of the three baskets are also inspired by the Acorn shape and the third is inspired by the strawberry shape. 

The two acorn shape baskets, Pekunsis and Eci-Pekunsis. won first place at the prestigious 103rd Santa Fe Indian Market. The internationally renowned market took place from August 16-17, 2025, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The annually held Santa Fe Indian Market is the world’s largest Native American art market presented by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts to celebrate traditional Indigenous arts and culture. Over 1000 Indigenous artists from across North America came together to showcase their creations in fine art, fashion, film, performances, and community celebrations.

Perley-Dutcher uses Sterling silver and copper to create his baskets giving them a timeless look and delicate visual balance.

Small perley dutcher s 1 Shane Perley-Dutcher
Shane Perley-Dutcher is a Wolastoq mixed media artist from the Neqotkuk Wolasqiyik (Tobique First Nation) in New Brunswick.  Shane specializes in custom and intricate jewellery and one-of-a-kind sculptures.  Perley-Dutcher’s innovative technique of weaving metal showcases the intricacy of his skill and ability to blend  

contemporary aesthetics and traditional Wolastoqey practices to preserve their traditional knowledge.  

Formally trained at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, graduating with his Jewellery Manufacturing Diploma, Perley-Dutcher has created many pieces for private and public collections and has participated in many international exhibitions such as Collect Art Fair UK and Biennale d’art contemporin autochtone, as well as has permanent installations in various renowned galleries including the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Gallery on Queen, and the Abbe Museum.  

Authentically representing Indigenous culture and building on his connection to the land is an integral part of Perley-Dutcher’s creative process, as his projects have evolved to include large-scale, commission-based pieces exploring themes of truth and reconciliation and Indigenous sovereignty.