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Killer Whale

In the Northwest Coast Native American culture these majestic creatures are associated with strength, dignity, prosperity, and longevity. Killer Whales are thought to be the reincarnations of great chiefs. They often guide people to safety when they are caught in stormy weather. All along the coast, fishermen and hunters often applied Killer Whale designs to their canoes for safety.

Whales, a common motif in the art of the Northwest Coast peoples, were the subject of countless stories and legends. One story held that a whale could capture a canoe and drag it and the people aboard down to an underwater Village of the Whales. These people were then transformed into whales themselves. The Haida believed that whales seen near villages were these drowned people trying to communicate with the villagers. The Coastal Indians held whales in great respect. The West Coast people of Vancouver Island, and the related Makahs, the only groups to hunt whales, underwent significant purification ceremonies prior to the hunt. The Orca is always regarded with respect by the Northwest Coastal Native Americans. He is the subject of much fantasy and superstition. The Orca is given to show respect and awe, and to tell someone that they bring harmony to your life.