The ancestors of the Snuneymuxw lived and thrived for thousands of years in the rich environment of southeastern Vancouver Island. What they did not have within their territory, they traded for with other groups. This was the case with nephrite, the beautiful, durable stone found only in the interior of British Columbia's mainland in the Lillooet and Lytton areas. Before metal was available, nephrite was the preferred stone for making adze blades.

Nephrite, a form of jade, is naturally green but can also become black after long exposure to weather. It is extremely hard, and as a result, one of the tougher stones to work with. This is also why it makes such a good woodworking tool.

Adze handles, or hafts, were made from wood in different styles. It is unknown which kind of adze handle this Snuneymuxw adze blade was attached to, because it was found in an archaeological excavation. This is usually the case when blades are found in excavations. The wooden handle and cordage that attached the blade to the handle have rotted away long ago. The archaeological deposit in which this blade was found in was estimated to be 2000 years old. Only the beautiful and skilfully produced adze blade remains.

Mauls are commonly made of diorite, gabbro or granite. A thin section of the stone or a freshly broken surface must be examined to identify these rock types, because the outer surface of the maul becomes polished and smooth and the details of the stone can no longer be seen. The material of the maul in the collection has not been identified.

Wedges, especially large ones, were often made of elk antler. Roosevelt Elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) is the subspecies of elk that live on Vancouver Island. The Snuneymuxw wedge in this collection is made of Roosevelt Elk antler. Wedges were also made from hardwoods, especially Western Yew (Taxus brevifolia). The yew is referred to as the "wedge plant" in some coastal languages. Other trees used to make wedges were Pacific Crab Apple (Malus fusca), Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) and Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis).