Clan House
at Totem Bight, left. A Raven is represented on the painted front. The
pole
on the front of the house is called Wandering Raven. Raven is at the top with a carved
box containing daylight at his feet, then a mink and a frog and the standing figure of a
man holding a Blackfish (killer whale). Below him is Raven-at-the-head-of-Nass, the
powerful chief who owned the sun, moon and stars and who was Raven's grandfather.
Below him is Raven's mother with a large labret in her lip. The pole illustrates the story
of Raven bringing daylight to a dark world. Figures at the corners are men in woven
spruce-root hats, prepared for a dance or a potlatch. Tourists, right, appear awestruck
from exposure to supernatural power.
on the front of the house is called Wandering Raven. Raven is at the top with a carved
box containing daylight at his feet, then a mink and a frog and the standing figure of a
man holding a Blackfish (killer whale). Below him is Raven-at-the-head-of-Nass, the
powerful chief who owned the sun, moon and stars and who was Raven's grandfather.
Below him is Raven's mother with a large labret in her lip. The pole illustrates the story
of Raven bringing daylight to a dark world. Figures at the corners are men in woven
spruce-root hats, prepared for a dance or a potlatch. Tourists, right, appear awestruck
from exposure to supernatural power.
A closer look at one of the corner
figures, showing his cane. Center is
one of the interior
support posts symbolizing the exploits of Duk-toothl, a man of the Raven phratry wearing
a Weasel hat and tearing a Sea Lion in two. Detail right shows faces on his hands and
the Sea Lion's legs (or whatever you call them). Faces crop up in places where none is
expected, perhaps just filling space, perhaps symbolizing that the figure has transformed
from human to its present form, or is capable of doing so. (This suggests that Duk-toothl
needed supernatural strength to be able to so mistreat the unfortunate Sea Lion.)
support posts symbolizing the exploits of Duk-toothl, a man of the Raven phratry wearing
a Weasel hat and tearing a Sea Lion in two. Detail right shows faces on his hands and
the Sea Lion's legs (or whatever you call them). Faces crop up in places where none is
expected, perhaps just filling space, perhaps symbolizing that the figure has transformed
from human to its present form, or is capable of doing so. (This suggests that Duk-toothl
needed supernatural strength to be able to so mistreat the unfortunate Sea Lion.)
A nearby stream, falling and, a few hundred yards farther, joining the salt water.
Eagle Heights B&B, another nice place to stop. Ketchikan is 3 miles long and 3 blocks high.
From our window (top right) we were looking down on eagles, eagles by the score.
next
(Click on Eagle)
(Click on Eagle)