page_title: Natsilane
hierarchical_section_title: Natsilane
caption_attribution_description: English: Box drum kóok gaaw “box drum” Language: Lingít Eeshaan du keedí (Our poor Killer Whale.) I’m just going to say the words to you. Goosú du aaní? (Where is its land?) Gaashú ch’á I aaneex´yéi eetí? (Why didn’t you stay at home?) Eeshaan du keedí. (Our poor Killer Whale.)…And the old ladies began to cry, and they said, ‘Our poor Killer Whale. Where is your home? —Clarence Jackson, 2005 Drums sound out the heartbeat of grief, as expressed in the Killer Whale mourning song. Box drums accompany singing during funerals and at the memorial ku.éex’ (memorial potlatch) ceremonies that come later. The box drum is a wide plank of red cedar, steamed and bent at the corners, with a separate top piece attached by nails. The painted design represents the Killer Whale. Box drums were traditionally suspended from the ceiling of a lineage house and played by young men; the technique is to hit the inside with fist or fingers to vary the volume and tone. Culture: Tlingit Region: Southeast Alaska Village: Wrangell Object Category: Ceremony Dimensions: Length 96cm Accession Date: 1905 Source: Dr. John R. Swanton (collector) Museum: National Museum of Natural History Museum ID Number: E233491
context_page_description: Natsilane is the human hero of the "Blackfish" creation myth, one of the Tlingit and Haida stories about how the various supernatural animal species from the Tlingit culture of the American Northwest coast were created. These stories follow an almost dreamtime-like description of humans and other animal species living completely harmoniously. The animals are depicted as demi-gods, and are always referred to as proper singular nouns. There are other similar stories including how Raccoon got the rings on his tail and why Puma hides in the forest so much.
  Blackfish is arguably the most important creature in Haida culture. Blackfish is also highly revered in Tlingit culture because of his apparent affinity with humans. He represents an extremely powerful force of nature, deadly and terrifying to every creature except man, whom he is said to look after. The story describes why this is so. There are many variations to the tale, some considerably more brutal than others, and the exact details vary widely according to the storyteller, but the main theme of the story is always the same.
context_section_description: Natsilane (/noʊtsaɪˈklɑːneɪ/ noht-sy-KLAH-nay) is the human hero of the "Blackfish" creation myth, one of the Tlingit and Haida stories about how the various supernatural animal species from the Tlingit culture of the American Northwest coast were created. These stories follow an almost dreamtime-like description of humans and other animal species living completely harmoniously. The animals are depicted as demi-gods, and are always referred to as proper singular nouns (for instance, "Raccoon" and "Raven"). There are other similar stories including how Raccoon got the rings on his tail and why Puma hides in the forest so much.
  Blackfish is arguably the most important creature in Haida culture. Blackfish is also highly revered in Tlingit culture because of his apparent affinity with humans. He represents an extremely powerful force of nature, deadly and terrifying to every creature except man, whom he is said to look after. The story describes why this is so. There are many variations to the tale, some considerably more brutal than others, and the exact details vary widely according to the storyteller, but the main theme of the story is always the same.
caption: Tlingit box drum with painted Blackfish motif, 19th c.
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