Ahtsik’nuk

Mountain Chief with Thunderbird Atop, Tim Paul, Hesquiaht | Red cedar, sterling silver, paint, 24” x 21” x 8”

Carvings of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth

“Good With the Hands”

November 1 - 16, 2014

This collection of works made by talented and skilled hands serves to both share Nuu-chah-nulth culture with the public and to keep it’s cultural roots strong and growing.

The Nuu-chah-nulth Elders always considered their people to be tightly entwined with the natural world. They are an ancient group whose traditional territory stretches from the northern tip of the Olympic peninsula and along the western edge of Vancouver Island. This rugged strip of land is home to sixteen Nations living between snow-capped mountains and the open ocean.

qwa-ya-ciik.tucuml (Special Race of People from the Sky) Tim Paul

Hesquiaht

Red cedar, paint 02

16” x 11” x 5”

They are a whaling people, long reliant upon the success of the dangerous and daring whale hunt, an event that took years of physical and spiritual preparation. In this part of the world, only one other creature hunted whales: the great Thunderbird. To the Nuu-chah-nulth, this enormous bird lived among the highest mountains and had the power to create storms and control the weather. He was the ultimate whale hunter Living between the two extreme worlds of sea and sky, the Nuu-chah-nulth continue to grow and change, always looking to maintain the delicate balance that they have held for millennia.

The Elders say that culture is always moving, like nature. If it doesn’t move and change, it will cease to exist. This gathering of sculpture represents this growth and movement. It encourages the next generation to celebrate the art and culture of the Nuu-chah-nulth with loud, strong voices and to represent the traditional teachings with pride and respect.

Raven Paddle Moy Sutherland

Tla-o-qui-aht

Yellow cedar, abalone, paint 67� x 7�

03

Quayatseek Wolf Headdress Moy Sutherland

Tla-o-qui-aht

Red cedar, cedar bark, paint 25” x 13” x 9”

- ‘Quayatseek’ is the Wolf, one of

the most important crests.

The headdresses are worn with the nose pointing upwards away from the dancer’s forehead. These headdresses are used during the most significant ceremonies. -

White Wolf Rattle George David

Tla-o-qui-aht

Red cedar, paint, beads 14” x 6” x 4” 04

Fool Dance Mask Greg Colfax

Makah

Red cedar, cedar bark, copper, horsehair, feathers, paint.

16” x 10” x 12”

kwayaatsiik kuuxmin Steam-bent Wolf Rattle Gordon Dick

Tseshaht

Alder, copper, beads 12” x 5” x 3”

- Members of the Wolf Society are of the highest rank.

This rattle is made using steam-bent wood and a hammered copper handle.-

05

Spiritual Cleansing Kelly Robinson

Ahousat

Alder, cedar bark, paint 19” x 13” x 9”

- The fall Moon

signifies the beginning

of the cleansing rituals leading up to the whale hunt.

In this mask , the Whale Hunter is

visualizing himself searching for the spirit of the whale. 06

Eagle Moon Moy Sutherland

Tla-o-qui-aht

Red cedar, abalone, paint 15” x 15” x 5”

Nuu-cha-nulth Moon Moy Sutherland

Tla-o-qui-aht

Yellow cedar, red cedar, abalone, copper, glass, paint 38” x 38” x 9” 07

Raven and the Female Octopus Tim Paul

Hesquiaht

- Raven kept telling Miss Octopus

18” x 11” x 6”

even though she knew he was playing a trick on her. When the tide came in, she wrapped her arms around him and held tight. The sea rose higher until Raven was under water and begging to be let go. “I thought you loved me!” said Miss Octopus. She finally let go and Raven floated back to shore. Raven never learned a lesson in his life. -

Red cedar, paint

“I love you, I want to marry you”

Qu_uu and Ka-in-kus (Raven and Crow) Tim Paul

Hesquiaht

Red cedar, paint, cedar bark 08

16” x 8” x 11”

Holding Something of Importance Tim Paul

Hesquiaht

Red cedar, paint 32” x 23” x 11”

The Spirit of Thunderbird Tim Paul

Hesquiaht

Red cedar, paint 15” x 15” x 7”

09

Pook-miss Kelly Robinson

Ahousat

Alder, horsehair, paint 15” x 12” x 6”

Raven Shaman George David

Tla-o-qui-aht

Alder, horse hair, cedar bark 14” x 9” x 6”

10

-The Lead Whaler is the most experienced hunter in the group. This Hunter has spent a vast amount of time preparing for the hunt. He is asking the spirit of the Humpback to offer itself to the community.-

Lead Whaler Gordon Dick

Tseshaht

Red cedar, cedar bark rope 23” x 10” x 9”

Lost at Sea Kelly Robinson

Ahousat

Alder, horsehair, paint 12” x 10” x 5”

-The Whale hunts were so dangerous that when Nuu-chah-nulth men went out to hunt for their village, some of them would not return.11

- Puppetry was often used in potlatch events for dramatic storytelling. This mask is a depiction of the hunting preparation, which often calls upon the spirits of Thunderbird and Lightning Serpent. The hunter comes to life when his preparation is complete. -

Preparing for the Hunt George David

Tla-o-qui-aht

Red cedar, alder, horsehair, copper, paint 14” x 7” x 5”

12

Old-Timer Joe David

Tla-o-qui-aht

Spalted alder, horsehair, moss 10” x 12” x 5” 13

Canoe Greg Colfax

Makah

Red cedar, paint 20” x 4”

Salmon Weir Rattle Gerren Peters

Nuu-cha-nulth

Red cedar, cedar bark, rope, paint 15” x 13” x 11”

14

- Canoe boxes were steam-bent in a particular way to allow for storage of fishing tackle and for seating in canoes. They angled inward at the bottom so that a fisherman could sit on them and place his feet in the proper position to paddle.-

Bentwood Canoe Box Ray Sim

Nuu-cha-nulth Red cedar, paint

Thunderbird Box Ray Sim

Nuu-cha-nulth Red cedar, paint 12” x 7” x 7”

15

Shark Hunter Tim Paul

Hesquiaht

Red cedar, paint 20” x 16” x 6”