The wolf features strongly in both Indian and Inuit lore as a successful hunter. Once the object of fear among the white settlers and shot by bounty hunters, the wolf is becoming better understood and more appreciated, both in Canada and Alaska, and is depicted in art throughout the north. In Indian designs, the wolf is identified by an elongated snout with flaring nostrils, large teeth and ears, and a curled tail.

The Wolf is a significant family crest and myth figure among some of the native peoples of the Northwest Coast. It is considered the land equivalent of the killer whale because of the parallels between the species' social behavior - traveling in packs and stalking prey.