by Jarrod Saunders
(Nuxalk)

Yellow Cedar, Paint (12”x9”x6”)

Price:$1985

Bear – In the following Nuxalk story, Qwinao obtains supernatural power from Grizzly Bear.

After being shown the trail to Grizzly Bear by some Mountain Goats, Qwinao came to a pool and there hid himself. Presently a mother grizzly bear and three cubs appeared, took off their bear-skins, and in the form of human beings dived into the pool. In their exuberance of spirits they threw heavy stones to and fro as if they had been pebbles. Qwinao jumped forth from his hiding place and seized their animal cloaks. Without their skins, the bears were helpless. “Please give me some of your strength,” Qwinao said to them. “All right,” replied the mother bear, “come in and swim with us.” Qwinao dived into the pool among the animals, swam around for a few minutes, and then returned to the shore. He did this four times in all. Later, after vomiting the unclean food he had eaten, once more he swam in the pool while the mother bear scoured him with a bundle of thorny branches. During the process Qwinao felt new vigour surging through him. Qwinao was now able to join the four bears in their sport and threw boulders even as far as they were able for he had acquired the power of a bear. The five left the pool together and when the animals had reassumed their form they gave Qwinao a bear blanket. On donning this he, too, became a grizzly bear. (McIlwraith)