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The Haida & Kwakiutl Indians - ebook
The Haida & Kwakiutl Indians - ebook
Describes the tribal and tattoo designs of the Haida, Kwakiutl Indians and other tribes of the Pacific Northwest
| Kategoria: | History |
| Język: | Angielski |
| Zabezpieczenie: |
Watermark
|
| ISBN: | 978-90-78900-09-2 |
| Rozmiar pliku: | 8,4 MB |
FRAGMENT KSIĄŻKI
Introduction
To the Indians of the Pacific Northwest coast the Thunderbird is the most powerful creature. It is a mythological figure or spirit, just like the double-headed snake, Sisiul. The Thunderbird represents the sun and the upper world while the snake represents the moon and the underworld.
But the Indians believe that all animals possess a degree of supernatural power. Animals can even take on a human form and live in their own houses among the Indians. There are the salmon people, the beaver people, the grizzly bear people, etc. And just like humans, the ‘other people’ have
immortal souls and intelligence. Taboos and customs during the hunting and fishing seasons must ensure that the relationship and balance between the two kinds of people remains in tact.
The Haida of Queen Charlotte’s Islands divide their entire world into two groups or clans: all animals and all people belong in one of these two group. Among the Haida these are the Raven and the Eagle and these clans regulate marriage and property in the tribes. If a man is an Eagle, his wife and children are Ravens, and vice versa. The Tlingit have the Raven and the Wolf
When the Thunderbird flaps its mighty wings the mountains shake and the people tremble. It feeds on whales and snakes, which it kills with lightning bolts from its eyes. Only the Killer Whale, the king of the sea and the strongest and largest of all living creatures can withstand the power of the Thunderbird. When they battle the sea rises and tidal waves plague the land.
the haida & kwakiutl indians
designs from the pacific northwest
clan, and the Tsimshian have four clans: Eagle, Wolf, Raven and the Killer Whale.
The Eagle, like the Thunderbird, represents the sun. This fast-flying bird can reach great heights and is a ferocious hunter. The Thunderbird is therefore often depicted as an eagle. The Indians have a very special bond with the raven. This bird is always around and is a reliable and intimate friend. But the Killer Whale is the most powerful and lives in villages under the sea. The Indians know exactly where these villages are and even their names.
The Indians use depictions of animals as symbols of their clans, tribe and family. They are painted and carved onto houses, totem poles and canoes, woven into blankets and clothes, and the Haida Indians once tattooed these on their bodies. Among the Haida, the most popular were the thunderbird (skamskwin), bear’s head (hoorts), halibut (hargs), frog (flkamkostan), beaver (tsching), wolf (wasko), octopus (noo), dogfish (kahátta), the mythological skulpin (kull) and the cod (kahatta). The animals are
often conventionalised. For example, a large mouth full of teeth indicates the grizzly bear; the killer whale is symbolised by a dorsal fin and a blowhole, and the beaver by large incisor teeth and a scaly flat tail. The raven is distinguished from the eagle by its straight beak.
Special ceremonies are held during the winter months, after the hunting seasons, when there is abundant food and everyone is around. With the Kwakiutl, the Nootka and the Bella Coola these are the winter dances, performed by secret societies. The Indians believe that in the winter supernatural beings and spirits visit the villages. The Cannibal spirit is the most feared and he lives then in a house in the north. With the Kwakiutl only people of the Seal clan are allowed to perform the dances and those members of the Cannibal society, the hamatsa, are the highest in rank. The nocturnal feasts and ceremonies involve singing and dancing with the performers wearing masks representing the spirits and animals that feature in their stories.
To the Indians of the Pacific Northwest coast the Thunderbird is the most powerful creature. It is a mythological figure or spirit, just like the double-headed snake, Sisiul. The Thunderbird represents the sun and the upper world while the snake represents the moon and the underworld.
But the Indians believe that all animals possess a degree of supernatural power. Animals can even take on a human form and live in their own houses among the Indians. There are the salmon people, the beaver people, the grizzly bear people, etc. And just like humans, the ‘other people’ have
immortal souls and intelligence. Taboos and customs during the hunting and fishing seasons must ensure that the relationship and balance between the two kinds of people remains in tact.
The Haida of Queen Charlotte’s Islands divide their entire world into two groups or clans: all animals and all people belong in one of these two group. Among the Haida these are the Raven and the Eagle and these clans regulate marriage and property in the tribes. If a man is an Eagle, his wife and children are Ravens, and vice versa. The Tlingit have the Raven and the Wolf
When the Thunderbird flaps its mighty wings the mountains shake and the people tremble. It feeds on whales and snakes, which it kills with lightning bolts from its eyes. Only the Killer Whale, the king of the sea and the strongest and largest of all living creatures can withstand the power of the Thunderbird. When they battle the sea rises and tidal waves plague the land.
the haida & kwakiutl indians
designs from the pacific northwest
clan, and the Tsimshian have four clans: Eagle, Wolf, Raven and the Killer Whale.
The Eagle, like the Thunderbird, represents the sun. This fast-flying bird can reach great heights and is a ferocious hunter. The Thunderbird is therefore often depicted as an eagle. The Indians have a very special bond with the raven. This bird is always around and is a reliable and intimate friend. But the Killer Whale is the most powerful and lives in villages under the sea. The Indians know exactly where these villages are and even their names.
The Indians use depictions of animals as symbols of their clans, tribe and family. They are painted and carved onto houses, totem poles and canoes, woven into blankets and clothes, and the Haida Indians once tattooed these on their bodies. Among the Haida, the most popular were the thunderbird (skamskwin), bear’s head (hoorts), halibut (hargs), frog (flkamkostan), beaver (tsching), wolf (wasko), octopus (noo), dogfish (kahátta), the mythological skulpin (kull) and the cod (kahatta). The animals are
often conventionalised. For example, a large mouth full of teeth indicates the grizzly bear; the killer whale is symbolised by a dorsal fin and a blowhole, and the beaver by large incisor teeth and a scaly flat tail. The raven is distinguished from the eagle by its straight beak.
Special ceremonies are held during the winter months, after the hunting seasons, when there is abundant food and everyone is around. With the Kwakiutl, the Nootka and the Bella Coola these are the winter dances, performed by secret societies. The Indians believe that in the winter supernatural beings and spirits visit the villages. The Cannibal spirit is the most feared and he lives then in a house in the north. With the Kwakiutl only people of the Seal clan are allowed to perform the dances and those members of the Cannibal society, the hamatsa, are the highest in rank. The nocturnal feasts and ceremonies involve singing and dancing with the performers wearing masks representing the spirits and animals that feature in their stories.
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