http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/haida_legends

1
Click the bird to go to the student gallery for
examples writing in the style of the Haida.
http//www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/haida_leg
ends/
2
How do you pronounce the word "Haida"? It's
pronounced "HIGH-dah." What does it
mean? This is an English pronunciation of their
native word Xayda, which means "person."
3
Haida Gwaii is an archipelago of islands (the
Queen Charlotte Islands) off the northern coast
of British Columbia near the province's border
with Alaska.
4
Images of The Queen Charlotte Islands
5

• Religion
• Haida customs, beliefs, and history were passed
  down orally through stories, songs, and dances.
• They had stories about why certain things
  occurred, for example, the changes in season.
  There were also stories about each group and how
  they first appeared in this world. All of these
  stories were passed down to subsequent
  generations.
• The people of the Northwest believed that they
  were surrounded, at all times, by supernatural
  beings interfering with the natural world.
• In their culture, spirits were connected to all
  living things.

http//firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_nwc5.
html
6
Killer Whale is a very important crest and mythic
being throughout the Pacific Northwest. In legend
he is widely recognized as a clan ancestor, and
is associated with power, dignity, prosperity and
longevity. It was believed a Killer Whale could
capsize a canoe and carry its occupants
underwater to its village, transforming the
occupants themselves into Killer Whales. Thus a
Whale near the shore was a human transformed and
trying to communicate with his previous human
family ashore.
7
The art was originally made for practical
purposes. Bentwood boxes, totems, spoons, knives,
bowls, dishes all sort of other household goods
were decorated with family crests, totems and
other artwork that was unique to a particular
family.
8
The First HumansHaida stories tell of how the
first people emerged from a gigantic clam shell
on the beach at Rose Spit. They got out with the
help of Raven, who is the most powerful creature
from myth time. Raven was wandering on the beach,
when he heard some noise coming from a clam
shell. He looked more closely and saw that it was
full of little human creatures. They were
terrified by the Raven and the big world outside
the shell. "So, the Raven leaned his great head
close to the shell, and with the smooth
trickster's tongue, that had got him into and out
of so many misadventures, in his troubled and
troublesome existence, he coaxed and cajoled and
coerced the little creatures to come out and play
in his wonderful, shiny, new world."-Bill Reid,
Haida artist
9
Seal The staple food of may coastal Natives was
brought to the rivers and seas by Raven. Many
celebrated the first catch of the season with
ceremonies of thanksgiving, to ensure a good
harvest.
Wolf An important family crest, Wolf was revered
for his skill as a hunter. To become a good
hunter, one must acquire the spirit power
associated with Wolf. Haida legends have a
supernatural Sea Wolf, Wasgo, a creature part
Wolf and part Whale.
10
Dolphin Known for its human traits, they where
once humans, the great creator was asked by
humans to make a bridge from the islands to the
mainland, the creator said he would make a
bridge, and he created a rainbow from the islands
to the mainland, but if you fall off i will turn
you into a sea creature, so many of humans tried
to make the trip but the ones that fell off were
turned into the first dolphins.
11
A symbol of power and prestige among the many
nations of the world, the eagle is also an
important symbol among the northwest coast
people. The golden eagle lives primarily in the
more mountainous regions while the bald eagle can
be found along the coast. Eagle is one of the
most important beings in the art and mythology.
It is revered for its intelligence and great
power, as well as its extraordinary vision. With
its ability to soar to extreme altitude the Eagle
is regarded as the principle messenger of the
creator, the sun. Eagle down is a sacred symbol
of peace and friendship and is frequently
sprinkled before guests in welcome dances and
other ceremonies. The eagle feathers are also
used in a variety of ritual contexts, as well as
adorning masks and head-dresses.
12
The Pacific Northwest Coast people believed that
Salmon were actually humans with eternal life how
lived in a large house far under the ocean. In
the Spring, they put on their Salmon disguises
and offered themselves to the villagers as food.
The tribes believed that when entire fish
skeletons were returned to the sea, the spirits
would rise again and change into Salmon people.
In this way, the cycle could begin again the
following year. Since the villagers feared that
the Salmon people would not be treated
respectfully by White people who had no knowledge
of the taboos and regulations, they did not want
to sell Salmon to the first White men.
13
The frog is a creature of great importance in the
Pacific Northwest Coast art and culture. With its
ability to live on both water and land this
creature is revered for its adaptability and
power to live in both the natural and
supernatural realm. Frogs are considered the
spirit messengers of Shamans. Frog is known as
the communicator between mother earth and man. He
is considered the only child to mother earth.
Frog is often used to represent the voice of the
people. Being that this creature is very vocal,
its songs are considered by some to contain great
power and magic. Frog is also associated with
copper and is a symbol of great wealth. Legendary
Haida princes are said to have attended feasts
wearing necklace chains made of living Frogs.
14
Moon The Moon was the exclusive crest of only a
few of the highest-ranking chiefs among the
Haida rights to this crest are still inherited.
Raven is said to have released Moon and the stars
are pieces of Moon, flung into the sky. An
eclipse was said to be a codfish trying to
swallow the moon and a bonfire, set with green
boughs, choked the cod and stopped it.
Owl The Owl is one of the many crest figures
depicted in Northwest Coast Native design. Often,
they are associated with the souls of deceased
ancestors and are viewed with respect.
15
Wasco is a mythical creature, part wolf, part
killer whale. The legends of Wasco are found all
along the northwest coast. His favorite prey is
the killer whale and he is often depicted with
his tail wrapped around a killer whale. He is
usually drawn with a wolf head, and wolf tail but
will often have one or more dorsal fins similar
to a killer whale.
16
Bear are regarded with awe and respect by the
native people of the northwest coast. It is
considered to be a close relation of humankind
with its complex behavior and appearance, and is
referred to as the Elder Kinsman. It is one of
the most prominent figures in crest, shamanic art
and myth. With their strength and fierceness,
bears are the guardian spirits of warriors.
Bearskin cloaks are often worn during dances,
ceremony and ritual performances. Jewellery and
amulets were crafted from bear teeth and claws,
for example a shaman would wear a bearclaw crown.
Bear is usually depicted with a protruding
tongue, clawed feet, little or no tail and a
short, broad snout.
17
Thunderbird is the most powerful supernatural
creature. He lived in the mountains and fed on
whales. When he flapped his wings, thunder
rolled he kept lightning snakes under his wings
to aid him in killing whales. For this reason,
whalers painted lightning snakes on their canoes.
18
The formline of Pacific Northwest Native Indian
art is the main line that outlines the body of
the subject whether it is a person or animal. The
formline is usually black in color but can
sometimes be red. The thickness of the formline
itself can change at various places and contains
all the other shapes used for a subject.
Northwest Coast art is distinguished by the use
of formlines, and the use of characteristic
shapes referred to as ovoids, U forms and S
forms. The main traditional colors of Pacific
Northwest Native Indian art are black and red.
Black is the primary color used in the formline
which is the outline for the body of the subject.
19
Examples of Ovoid Shapes
Examples of U-Forms
20
Examples Split U-Forms
L-Form
Examples of S-Forms
21
Principles and Elements of Design Color An
important element of the cedar plank masks is
color. Black, blue, and red are imaginatively
applied, creating balance within the entire
piece. Color is used to define each of the parts
of the head as well as shape. Traditionally, just
as today, paints were made from materials.
Northwest Coast Indians produced red from iron
oxide, black from graphite, and white from lime
and burnt clamshells. Blue paint from the
northern part of the coast has been analysed to
be iron silica. All of these materials were mixed
with oils, quite often salmon eggs, to make
paint. Space There is the avoidance of empty
space where a design form or line will add to the
interest of complexity. This embellishment is,
however, done with sufficiant restraint to
maintain a proper integral balance of line, form,
and carving. Shape Geometric and freeform
design. Some designs sometimes seem to represent
internal body parts, sometimes external
appendages, and sometimes magical powers. These
special designs are both angular and loose, free
forms. A prominent form which is used to depict
the body parts is the "U-form". It frequently
depicts feathers and ears. Texture Texture
supplies variation in the design. The carved
cross-hatching can be echoed by the use of
painted cross-hatching. Line Curves are
emphasized on nostrils, eyes, and lips, by deeply
incised carvings, contrasting color, or both.
Nearly all lines, whether incised or painted,
have a tendancy to run parallel and taper to a
terminal point to each end. Form The masks were
carved in 3-dimensional form.
22
Raven - The mercurial trickster of Northwest
Coast Native lore. Curious and mischievious,
often misbehaving but never boring. Sea Turtle -
This totem is representative of Mother
Earth. Thunderbird - A mythological bird known
to manifest the rolling of thunder while beating
its wings and creating lightening when blinking
it's eyes. Known to kill whales. Eagle -
Intelligent and resourceful. He rules the sky
and is able to transform himself into a
human. Wolf - Very powerful totem who can help
people that are sick or in need. Bear - A
teacher symbol as it is believed that Bear
taught the People to catch salmon and pick
berries. Frog - Known for bringing wealth and is
associated with Copper Woman. In another myth,
frog was held down in fire, when it burst lava
flowed and engulfed an entire village. Otter -
The otter is a mischievous creature that is also
a symbol of laughter, curiosity, grace, and
empathy. Salmon - The salmon symbolizes
instinct, persistence, and determination. Owl -
The owl is a very respected animal and is thought
to symbolize the souls of the departed. Killer
Whale - Whales are honored as strong and brave
fish. The mythology of the killer whale is that
is will bring food and assistance to a chief or
other important person lying helpless and/or
wounded.