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Description

Cape made of painted cloth and wooden slats in the shape of wings. The upper part of the cape is white cloth with red and black designs with some green detailing. There are four metal rings, two on each side, attached in the middle of the upper edge for fastening the cape. To either side of the rings, the edge is lined with white fur and large black and white feathers are attached. Midway down the white cloth wooden slats are attached and continue down past the end of the cloth. In the centre is a raised wooden oval painted red and black with three red downward barbs. From this centre piece, there are four painted wooden slats extending outwards on each side. The innermost slat is the shortest while the second is close in length to the third and fourth. The slats are painted in black, red and green designs. The underside of the cloth and wooden slats are not decorated.

History Of Use

Thunderbird dance regalia (see four parts 863/1-4); worn in the dance displaying Hunt's inherited Thunderbird privileges.

Iconographic Meaning

The story of Thunderbird: "The Great Chief Namoquayalis, 'The Only One,' lived in the highest mountain, called Klaskis, near Cape Cook. At one time a flood threatened to engulf the world. Then lightning flashed four times, and a Thunderbird transformed himself into a human being and came to the rescue of the Great Chief. The Great Chief then asked the Thunderbird to go look around the land for any survivors of the flood. The Thunderbird returned and told him that he had found some human survivors. So the Great Chief told the Thunderbird to go and invite these people to come and witness a Thunderbird dance. This dance and the Thunderbird privileges have been passed down from generation to generation of the Great Chief’s family." [From a narration by Emma Hunt, 1975.]

Narrative

Calvin Hunt received the rights to the Thunderbird crest, legends, and regalia, along with other names and crests, from his parents Emma Hunt and Chief Thomas Hunt at a 1975 family potlatch. This regalia is one of several sets he has made and danced; it was commissioned by the Museum of Anthropology in 1982. The regalia was borrowed back by Hunt in 1984, 1987 and 1988 to be danced at Kwak'waka'wakw potlatches.