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• Kwakwaka’wakw artist
• British Columbia
• Before 1900
• Cedar and paint
• Native Arts acquisition funds by exchange, 1941.246

The Kwakwaka’wakw are Indigenous peoples from the Pacific coast of Canada. For centuries, they have held copper-breaking ceremonies for various life events, and most often during a potlatch. Posts like this one were used during the ceremony as a type of anvil over which to break the copper. The posts are adorned with carvings that tell stories honoring the supernatural, the deceased, or the family member being recognized. This pole is thought to represent ‘Namxiyalagiyu, the Halibut-like Sea Monster, who resides in the waters of the Pacific Northwest Coast. It is said to be a powerful and fearsome creature, capable of causing great havoc and destruction. Despite the frightening reputation, the sea monster also serves as a symbol of the Kwakwaka’wakw people’s deep connection to the natural world, and their reverence and respect for the ocean and its inhabitants.