Legend

Understanding Northwest Coast Art by Cheryl Shearar

Bear

The bear is one of the most prevalent figures in crest and Shamanic art as well as in myths.  It is considered to be a close relation of humankind, perhaps because of its physical characteristics inlcuding size, appearance, expression, and behaviors such as standing on two hind legs, gathering plants and berries, fishing and nurturing young.  Because of its strength and fierceness, bears are frequently the guardians, protectors and helpers of the spirits of warriors.

Butterfly

In Haida stories, the butterfly is Raven’s companion, acting as a scout who leads Raven to food sources or uncovers the hiding places of other creatures.  The butterfly is increasingly popular today, with double wings, a segmented body and a sometimes characteristic, humanoid face.

Dragonfly

The dragonfly is a mobile, active, colorful creature, used to represent dynamism, motion and change.  Young Haida males were told to eat dragonfly wings to increase their speed as swimmers. A prominent thorax, double wings, a broad face and large eyes identify the dragonfly.

Eagle

A symbol of power and prestige among many nations of the world, the eagle is also important to the Indians of the Northwest Coast who share their environment with this majestic bird.  Many myths and legends surround the eagle.  Eagle down is a symbol of peace and friendship. It was – and still is – sprinkled before guests in welcome dances and on other ceremonial occasions.  Eagle feathers were used in rituals and worn on masks and headdresses.

Frog

The frog is a creature of great importance in the Northwest Coast art and culture.  As a creature that lives in two worlds – water and land – the frog is revered for its adaptability, knowledge and power to traverse worlds and inhabit diverse realms – both natural and supernatural.  Frogs are primary spirit helpers of shamans.  Frog is a great communicator, and often represents the common ground or voice of the people.  These are vocal, singing creatures, and the voice and song are believed to contain divine power and magic.  In the art, Frog is often shown sharing its tongue or touching tongues with another creature, exchanging knowledge and power.

Hawk

The hawk is known for his ability to hunt, revered for its superior vision, and is believed to be a spiritual helper. It is the symbol of vision and skill. The image of the hawk is similar to that of the eagle, but the hawk has a more dramatically hooked beak and is sometimes depicted with teeth.

Heron

The great blue heron is a year-round inhabitant of the Northwest region.  Traditionally, it was valued both as a winter food and as an alarm raiser: a heron cries out a loud warning at the approach of humans.  In myths, the heron appeared as a watchman for killer whale communities.

Hummingbird

In the Northwest Coast culture, the hummingbird is known to have nested in the unruly hair of the “Wild Woman of the Woods”, flying around her as she walked through the woods.  She is the guardian of the forest creatures, and the protector of the hummingbird.  Stories tell of high-ranking women arriving at feasts with live hummingbirds flying around them to announce their beauty, wealth, prestige and close communion with the spirit of the bird.  The hummingbird is a symbol of love and beauty.

Killer Whale

In the Northwest Coast Native American culture, these majestic creatures are associated with strength, dignity, prosperity and longevity.  Killer whales are thought to be the reincarnations of great chiefs.  In stormy weather, killer whales often guide people to safety.  All along the coast, fishermen and hunters often applied killer whale designs to their canoes for safety.

Moon

The moon is the protector and guardian of earth’s people.   Moon controls the tides and illuminates the dark night.  Moon is also associated with transformation.   Moon spirit watches over us and can change the way we feel.  Because of the powers of moon, it is widely regarded as an important protector and guardian spirit.

Raven

The raven is the most important being in the Northwest Coast art and mythology.  In stories, the raven is intelligent, curious, innovative and resourceful, yet selfish, greedy, deceitful and mischievous.  He always follows his appetite, and consequently is often in trouble. In fact, that is when he does some of his best creative work.  Among many other achievements, the raven determined the order of things in the world as we know it – he secured the blessings of fire, water, sun, moon and stars, and discovered humankind and all other creatures.  He is the original organizer, and is also known to be a relentless schemer and practical joker, lustful, impulsive, cunning, shameless and without remorse.

Salmon

Salmon are honored and celebrated by all coastal peoples. The fish serves as a powerful symbol of regeneration, self-sacrifice and perseverance.  In many Northwest cultures, salmon are associated with twins and are therefore usually carved in pairs. Native myths tell of people being kidnapped by salmon and eventually returned to their villages with secret knowledge.  These “Salmon People” secured vital knowledge and power necessary for the survival and success of their own people.    The Coast Salish people use Salmon as a unifying symbol of their nation.

Sea Monster

Native American legends describing the sea monster are common.  For example, the Manhousat people along the west coast of Vancouver Island spoke of the hiyitl'iik, or sea serpent, a semi-legendary creature.  This animal was seven or eight feet long, moved quickly on land as well as on water and could grow wings at will. Most stories indicate a large monster with saucer-like eyes, short legs, a short, chubby neck and a large head.  Depictions of sea serpents are common in native art.  A sea creature appears in one of the ancient petro glyphs at the Monsell site near the Nanaimo River on Vancouver Island.  Sea Serpents remain a persistent unsolved Pacific Northwest mystery. Reports continue to trickle in of sightings of large, unknown marine animals in coastal waters and some large inland lakes. Source: The Shadowlands

Sea Wolf

The sea wolf is a prominent Northwest Coast being of the undersea world.  Called Wasco by the Haida, this giant sea monster has the head and tail of a wolf with killer whale characteristics such as fins and a blowhole.  The sea wolf is an alternate form of the undersea world beings Sea Bear and Snag, and as such, is one of those who literally carry the world on their backs in Haida mythology and cosmology.

Sisiutl

A dramatic mythical creature frequently portrayed by Kwagiutl artists is the sisiutl, a two-headed serpent. The sisiutl represents the positive and negative of who you are.  The negative side suppresses your potential by telling you that you are a failure. The positive side tells you to embrace life and accomplish your dreams.  The sisiutl reminds us to reflect on our past experiences in life – both positive and negative – allowing ourselves to be set free from failures and claim what belongs to us.  Awesome Sisiutl guarded the entrance to the houses of supernatural creatures, and was therefore sometimes painted over the doorways of people’s houses for protection.

Sun

The sun is identified with its long rays and usually has the face of the hawk with its re-curved beak touching its mouth. The Sun Chief, who was put into the sky by the raven, is the provider of healing energy and life. The rays are the means of our travel between earth and sky.  The sun often appears in Northwest Coast art and is featured prominently in myths, often acting as a benevolent spirit guide.

Thunderbird

In the Northwest Coast Native American culture, the thunderbird is a giant, supernatural bird, named for his habit of causing thunder and lightning.  Beneath his wings he carries “Lightning Snakes”, which are his weapons.  Thunder rolls from the flap of his wings, and lightning flashes when he blinks his great eyes or throws the “Lightning Snakes”.  He is large and strong enough to hunt killer whales, which he strikes dead with the wolf-headed, serpent-tongued lightning snakes.  The thunderbird carries his prey high into the mountains to feed.  From his home in these great heights, he rules majestically, keeping a close watch over his dominion.  The thunderbird is intelligent and proud, and humans who attempt to outwit the thunderbird are certain to have their intentions backfire.

Wolf

Natives of the Northwest Coast respect the wolf for its strength, agility, intelligence and capacity for devotion.  The wolf’s range and communicative powers are impressive.  People traditionally believe in the potency and magic of speech and song.  Revered because it was a good hunter, the wolf was often associated with a special spiritual power that a man had to acquire to become a successful hunter.  In some legends, four wolf cubs survived the “Great Flood” by climbing to the peak of a high mountain.  After the waters receded, they howled loudly to find out if any other survivors existed.  Humans heard the cries, and the young wolves entered the human community.  Other myths and legends recount similar tales of adoption by wolves (and of wolves).  The wolf mother is sometimes depicted with a human child.