Sisters of the Underworld

Description

‘Sisters of the Underworld’ by Robert Davidson – First Nations Northwest Coast Haida Art presented by DaVic Gallery of Native Canadian Arts.

Condition:       No condition noted.

Description by Artist:     No description by artist found.

Notes from DaVic Gallery:  Female Dogfish with accompanying positive spirit drivers with attributes of Eagle, Killer Whale, and Shark.

The Haida divided the cosmos into three zones: sky world, earth, and underworld; divisions in the animal world corresponded, and within each zone they followed a hierarchy. The Killer Whale ruled over the seals and otters, the bear ruled over earth animals, and the eagle was the chief of all sky creatures. All animals possessed souls like humans, so myths refer to killer-whale people, eagle people, and grizzly-bear people, among many others. Transformations across zones resulted in “hybrid” animals − flying otters, bears with fins, possibly Sea Eggs.   Through many story cycles, killer whales, in particular, own remarkable powers.