Carve a ceremonial dance paddle

Well folks, I stopped framing professionally (cue the snorts and catcalls "professional isn't the word we'd use") in February of 2015, but I felt the need to keep working with wood.
My pick of poisons was to take up carving in the style of the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest.
My goal is not to supplant native carvers, but to have pretty things in my home, for a cost of time rather than dollars.
I'm just getting started, so I don't know much, but my goal is to pass on all I know.
I recomend taking classes. If you are in the Seattle area, I recomend Beaverlakewoodworks.com .