THE OWL

References:

Plate 5, Figure 2. (a) Shaman's Mask, Side face. Haida.
. (b) Shaman's Mask, Full face.
Plate 10, Figure 8. Shaman's Rattle. Tsimsyan.

The Owl is one of the Clan Crests of the Haida Raven Phratry
but is less frequently represented than the Raven, Bear, Frog or
Beaver. The Screech Owl plays a part in the Skidegate version of
the breaking off of Raven's beak when he stole the fishermen's
bait. (See "Raven," page 14). In this version, after the mis-
hap, before he joins the people gathered to discuss the matter,
he first calls to Screech Owl, pulls off the bird's beak, claps
it on his own face and gives the startled bird another beak.

In his detailed diary (c 1790) the Spanish explorer Jacinto
Caaman gives an account of a Haida chief's elaborate ceremonial
dance in which one of the masks he wore consisted of an owl's
head, beak and nostrils painted red and black with moveable eyes
which were manipulated by two partially concealed attendants.

The Owl is also a crest among the Bear Clan of the Tsimsyan
but its use is now restricted to a few families on the Upper
Skeena River, where, however, it appears on several finely carved
totem poles. Representations of this White Owl emblem are shown
as many as four times on one of the Tsimsyan poles and also ap-
peared as a very large painting and carving which decorated a
Salmon Smoke House known as the Owl's House. The entrance was
through the Owl's beak, and the bird's wings were painted across
the House front. They also own an Owl Potlatch Mask which was
worn in a ceremonial dance.

The Screech Owl received much attention and special heed
was given to its cries for its actions were kindly. If men
were out hunting and it called near their camp they said it
came to tell them a bear was in their trap. Or if when catch
ing salmon they noted its cry near their camp they threw
tobacco in the fire and said to the Owl: "Let it be dry weather
for us, Chief" so that they might continue to catch fish.

The Owl was regarded by many with reverence, one conception
being that the spirits of all Shamans passed at death to the Owl
Spirit.

The origin of the crest among the Tsimsyan people rests on

the tradition of a child taken away to its nest by the Mystic

seh a