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

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