Dance Knife Item Number: A6147 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Warrior dance knife, or baton in the form of Sisiutl. One side is carved but unpainted. The other side has a central frontal head with two upward and outward curling horn-like appendages at the top and a profile head on either side, each of which has another upward and backward curling horn-like appendage at the top. Painted green, white, black, and red.
History Of Use
Used by War dancer, hawinalalh (T. Johnson, 1966). Assistant to Winalagilis, the war spirit, this mythological creature was dangerous, powerful, and impervious to human weaponry. Sisiutl always appears with two serpent-like heads at each end of the body, which is represented by a face. Carried as a wand by the War dancer. Could also have descended from the ceiling on invisible strings during the War Dance (M. Bronsden).
Iconographic Meaning
Sisiutl was a double-headed serpent or lightning snake who was an assistant to Winalagalis, the War Spirit.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1953
- Collected in Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Sally Walkus before July 14, 1953
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Sally Walkus (Seller) on July 14, 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Previous Owner
- Sally Walkus
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Sally Walkus (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Smith Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Takus, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1953
- Ownership Date
- before July 14, 1953
- Acquisition Date
- on July 14, 1953
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 1979/0001