Some people equate her with Sasquatch - Bigfoot - the shy hairy giant of the forest. Others view her as a fearsome mythical creature that can be the source of great wealth. The privilege of representing her in carving and performance is a prized heritage of some Kwakwaka'wakw chiefs. Erected in Gwa'yasdam's on Gilford Island, B.C., for three years, the original Dzunuk'wa figure faced down the beach toward the owner's in-laws, who had not paid a marriage debt. Such "ridicule poles" were raised to shame someone who owed a debt to a chief. When the in-laws honored the debt, the pole was pivoted to face the water. Symbols of wealth-shield-shaped coppers were then added to her head and hands. The figure was carved by Bill Holm in 1970 based on photos of the original pole and the original head that is now part of the Burke's ethnology collection (2.5E645). At that time her body was painted black. Based on analysis of historical photographs and evidence in the works of Emily Carr, Bill Holm has come to believe the body of the original sculpture was painted red. The replica was changed from black to red in 2002, when it was placed outside.

The cedar root is yellow cedar. The grass is dye, purple, and green.

The cedar root is yellow cedar, grass, dye, and purple.

Small straight sided bowl carved with eagle design on exterior.

Wooden cradle, or baby carrier, in three pieces. Part (a) is the bottom and the side, (b) is the other side, and (c) is the bottom end. The main part is loosely held together with nails; the other two parts have nails protruding along the side (part b) or bottom (part c).

Small rectangular cedar root basket. Imbrication all the way around the sides is of a light coloured grass, with red and dark brown cherry bark creating a pattern of double diamonds, bordered with vertical bands in red and dark brown. Green thread is stitched around basket near rim.

Rectangular basket with lid (part b). Cedar slat and root construction. Decoration is four horizontal bands of light coloured grass, and large diamond patterns of red and brown bark are woven into the four sides, with red and brown rectangles decorating the lid. Handle straps consist of two off-white strips of hide, spliced at each end, looped through the bark weave of each long sides and knotted.

The paint is black, red, green, and pink.