WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 189

foes. Each of the crew captured a different kind of salmon which, in the
myth, are referred to by their supernatural names.

The Bald Eagle captured the spring salmon, Ottotdimut, “The One
that Changes Itself,” a reference to the two forms in which this fish
appears before and after spawning.

The Hawk captured the sockeye salmon, Nunutéikentinim, “The One
that Penetrates to the Head of the Rivers.”

The Raven captured the hump-back salmon, Anukpumaix, “The One
that Fills the Rivers.”

The Water Ouzel captured the dog salmon, Sxaieltwa, “The Maker
of Good Weather,” a reference to the calm weather in August when this
fish spawns.

The Great Blue Heron captured the cohoe salmon, Kpapstustusailaix,
“The One that Makes Us Fat.”

The Cormorant captured a variety of dog salmon, Osipax, for the
Bella Bella.

The Hermaphrodite was also successful and filled the enormous basket
which he had brought for the purpose with a large number of berry
captives.

As soon as the raiders had achieved their purpose they returned to
Bella Coola and released their booty; since that time there has been an
abundance of salmon in the river and of berries on the hills. The Cor.
morant left the canoe at Bella Bella and released the dog salmon there;
that is why this variety of fish has since been plentiful at Bella Bella.

Several Bella Coola kukusiut have a dance prerogative of
which the above is origin myth. The details vary slightly, and
some informants stated frankly that they had forgotten the
names of the bird crew. The reasons given for the use of
Winwina as patron likewise vary. According to one account,
in the beginning of time Atquntém placed the name Nunus-
kumai in a repository near the summit of the lofty Mount 9o,
near Stuux. He had two reasons for so doing: he did not wish
it to be defiled by passersby brushing dust into it with their
feet, and he wished the owner of the name to be the first to see
the return of Winwina. The repository is a small pond, which
can move from place to place, but, being itself supernatural,
is visible only to those who have purified themselves. Since
that time whoever has had the name Nunuskumai has had the
kusiut prerogative of seeing Winwina.