U'mista Cultural Society

The Potlatch Gallery

Image of a darkened corner in the Potlatch Gallery with a cedar chest visible in the foreground. Corner of the Potlatch Gallery showing a large cedar post and a group of wolf masks. Corner of the Potlatch Gallery showing a group of masks and headdresses from the potlatch collection View from the west end of the Potlatch Gallery showing the north side and entrance wall.

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Galugadza’yi - Crooked-Beak-of-Heaven

Colour photograph of Galugadza'yi - Crooked-Beak-of-Heaven shot against a black background

The Crooked-Beak-of-Heaven is one of the supernatural bird servants to the Man-Eater-at-the-North-End-of-the-World. You can recognize a Crooked-Beak by the dramatic curving pieces that spiral off her beak. In a potlatch, this group of supernatural birds tame the Hamat´sa or Cannibal-Dancer who is possessed by the Man-Eating Spirit.

Galugadza’yi

A supernatural man-eating bird, with raven like features, elaborate carved detail, mostly black with white and red markings and cedar trim.