SCANA OR KY-Q-IU, THE KILLER WHALE

References:

Plate 1, Figure 5. Killer Whale on Chief's Paint

Bag. Haida.
Plate &, Figure 5. "Ky-q-iu," the Killer Whale. Kwakiutl.
Plate 3, Figure 4. House Front Painting. Bella Coola.
Plate 43, Figure 6. House Front Painting. Kwakiutl.
Plate 4, Figure 3. Crest on Inside House Pole. Haida.
Plate 5, Figure 5. Dance Mask. Kwakiutl.
Plate 10, Figure 5. Ceremonial Drum. Kwakiutl.
Plate 11, Figure 4. Whales carved on Slate Box. Haida.
Plate 11, Figure 5. Whale engraved on Silver

Bracelet. Haida.
Plate le, Figures2 and 4. ‘Carved on Spinning

Whorls. Salish.

Plate 15, Figure 4. Painting on Ceremonial Screen. Nootkan.
Plate 15, Figure 6. Woven on Chief's Hat. Nootkan.

Plate 17, Figure 3. Woven design on Blanket. Bella Coola.

This sea mammal is stated to be the oldest crest of the Raven
Phratry of the Haida, and is also prominent among the Tsimsyan,
the Kwakiutl and the Nootka Tribes. In consequence, representa-
tions of this formidable creature frequently appear on house-front
paintings, totem poles, grave monuments, masks, crests, war hel-
mets, drums (Plate 10, Figure 5), dishes, spoons, ceremonial
rattles, canoes, etc.

The most important characteristics shown in such representa—
tions (in some cases by accepted symbols only) are the large
dorsal fin, with the oval "eye" joint sign or a human face at its
base; the long head with blunt mouth and large teeth. These were
often arranged with the flippers to conform to a*well balanced
design rather than to anatomical accuracy.

The symmetrical and artistic representation of the Killer
Whale reproduced in Plate 1, Figure 5 was painted by a Haida
artist on a Chief's ceremonial paint bag in the possession of
W. A. Newcombe, Victoria, B. C.

Plate &, Figure 5 is painted on the white bone of a whale
by George Hunt of the Kwakiutl Tribe. It shows the head of
"Ky-Q-IU" the Killer Whale highly conventionalized. The work
of this widely known artist was noted for the beauty of its
curves, the richness of its colouring and the balanced details
of its designs. Note the decorative prominence given to the

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