Kwakwaka'wakw mythology
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The Kwakwaka'wakw are 18 First Nations who speak the Kwakwala language that live on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada.
Dzunukwa (Tsonokwa) is a type of cannibal giant called sasquatch and comes in both male and female forms. In most legends, the female form is the most commonly told; she eats children and cries "hu-hu!" to attract them, she imitates the child's grandmother's voice. Children frequently outwit her and sometimes killing her and taking her treasures without being eaten.
U'melth is the Raven, who brought the Kwakwaka'wakw people the moon, fire, salmon, the sun and the tides.
Pugwis is a sort of aquatic creature with fish-like face and large incisors.
Of particular importance in Kwakwaka'wakw culture is the secret society called Hamatsa. During the winter, there is a four-day, complex dance that serves to initiate new members of Hamatsa. The Hamatsa dancer represents the spirit of Baxwbakwalanuksiwe' ("Man-Eater at the North End of the World"; who can transform into various man-eating birds and was said to have mouths all over his body. Hamatsa initiates are possessed by Baxwbakwalanuksiwe'. On the first day of the Hamatsa ceremonies the initiate is lured out of the woods and brought into the Big House to be tamed. When the initiate returns, he enacts his cannibalistic possession symbolically. Gwaxwgwakwalanuksiwe' is the most prestigious role in the Supernatural Man-Eater Birds ceremony; he is a man-eating raven Supernatural bird. Galogadzawis ("Crooked-Beak of Heaven") and Huxwhukw (supernatural Crane-Like Bird who cracks skulls of men to suck out their brains) are other participants.
