Ceremonial Sword

Item number A6165 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Ceremonial fool dancer sword. Painted on both sides with long, flat, upward and backward curving fin-like projection, a rounded angular head, and a handle that is square in cross section. The black eyes are circle in circle surrounded by a tapering oval and a green area with black brows above. The nostrils are red. The open black mouth shows ten red upper teeth. The fin-like projection has an inverted red u form that has a vertical white ovoid within and white space in between, an inverted white and red u form, a horizontal white outlined red ovoid, and a black split u with white space in between at the tip.

History Of Use

Used by the Nułamała (Fool) dancers to help enforce the laws and proper etiquette of the winter ceremonies during the Hamat'sa ceremony.

Iconographic Meaning

Daniel Cranmer called this a Winalagalis warrior sword (1953). Winalagalis is a Kwakwaka'wakw war god. He comes from North (underworld) to winter with the Kwakwaka'wakw, and is the bringer and ruler of the Tseka (Winter Ceremonial). According to Boas, he is associated with the Tuxwid, Hawinalal, and Ma'maka dances.