The pioneering #northwestern peoples known as #Kwakiutl, whose uncredited art features prominently in the #DavidLynch and #MarkFrost #TVseries #TwinPeaks, are the #Kwagu'ł—the name of a single community of #Kwakwaka'wakw located at #FortRupert, British Columbia, #Canada. The anthropologist Franz #Boas had done most of his anthropological work in this area and popularized the term for both this #nation and the collective as a whole. The term became misapplied to mean all the nations who spoke #Kwak'wala, as well as three other indigenous peoples whose language is a part of theWakashan linguistical group, but whose language is not Kwak'wala. These peoples, incorrectly known as the Northern Kwakiutl, were the Haisla,Wuikinuxv, and Heiltsuk. Here is some information on a chief of the nation: #Tsungani, Fearon Smith Jr. or “Smitty” is the younger brother of #Lelooska and Patty Fawn. Tsungani, meaning “he who excels” was given a very important Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) name, Qa7axtal’es, in 1968. Qa7axatal’es implying “young #herald” is translated as “He who arises early and invites the people into the house to eat”. When Lelooska passed away in 1996, Tsungani became clan chief of the Wiummasgum Clan of the House of Lelooska and the House of Sewide. The name Gixken meaning “Chief of Chiefs” was also passed to him. Growing up in a family already deeply involved in #Indian #arts, it was natural for him to fall in step with the rest of the family and become an artist. He is a skilled artist in all mediums of Northwest Coast Indian art but devotes most of his time to woodcarving. He is best known for his ceremonial #masks, #rattles, bentwood boxes and chests done in both traditional and contemporary styles. He particularly enjoys the creation of #shaman figures and masks based on historical pieces. In addition, he is deeply interested in Indian history and the history of the fur trade and has done extensive research in both fields. (at Lelooska Foundation)












