Soulcatcher
Encyclopedia
A Soulcatcher is an amulet
(Aatxasxw) used by the shaman (Halayt) of the Tsimshian
, Haida, Heiltsuk
, and Tlingit tribes of the Pacific Northwest Coast of British Columbia
and Alaska
. It is believed that all soulcatchers were constructed by the Tsimshian
tribe, and traded to the other tribes.
, incised on one or both sides, and often ornamented with abalone
shell. Bears had powerful shamanic connotations among the people of the Northwest Coast.
Soulcatchers were decorated with a sisiutl
-like animal: a land-otter or bear head at both ends of the tube, and an anthropomorphic face in the middle. This form may have represented the ability to shift shapes, or the mythological land-otter canoe
, implying the ability to travel between the three realms: air/god realm (kijek), earth/human/animal realm (takijek), and water/spirit realm (tekijek). The land-otter was the source of all shamanic power.
A shaman's helper spirit may have resided in the central head.
The soulcatcher was plugged at both ends with shredded cedar
bark, to contain the lost soul, or to hold a malevolent spirit "sucked out" of a patient. The amulet was usually worn as a necklace
. Soulcatchers ranged in length from 16 cm to 21.6 cm (6" to 8").
There are a few examples of wood soulcatchers, and a Haida example covered with copper
sheeting.
To cure the patient, the shaman would wear the soulcatcher as a necklace. He would then travel to the spirit world by calling helper spirits using trance
music, employing helper-spirit masks, and magical implements such as staffs. Shaman might also work in groups, constructing a representation of a shaman's Land-Otter canoe and "dantsikw
" spirit boards (see sisiutl
) as a vehicle to travel to the spirit world. Once the errant soul was located, the shaman would "suck" the soul into the soulcatcher, and return to the patient. The soul would then be "blown" back into the patient.
Another use of the soulcatcher was to suck malevolent spirits out of a patient.
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
(Aatxasxw) used by the shaman (Halayt) of the Tsimshian
Tsimshian
The Tsimshian are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around Terrace and Prince Rupert and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. There are approximately 10,000...
, Haida, Heiltsuk
Heiltsuk
The Heiltsuk are an Indigenous First Nations of the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, centred on the island communities of Bella Bella and Klemtu. The government of the Heiltsuk people is the Heiltsuk Nation...
, and Tlingit tribes of the Pacific Northwest Coast of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It is believed that all soulcatchers were constructed by the Tsimshian
Tsimshian
The Tsimshian are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around Terrace and Prince Rupert and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. There are approximately 10,000...
tribe, and traded to the other tribes.
Terminology
- Tsimshian: Haboolm Ksinaalgat (literally, 'keeper of breath')
- Haida: K’angitlkigya
- Tlingit: x'aséikw- a daakeidí
- English: Soulcatcher (invented by Western ethnographers to describe basic use)
Construction
Soulcatchers were constructed of a tube of bear femurFemur
The femur , or thigh bone, is the most proximal bone of the leg in tetrapod vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs. In vertebrates with four legs such as dogs and horses, the femur is found only in...
, incised on one or both sides, and often ornamented with abalone
Abalone
Abalone , from aulón, are small to very large-sized edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae and the genus Haliotis...
shell. Bears had powerful shamanic connotations among the people of the Northwest Coast.
Soulcatchers were decorated with a sisiutl
Sisiutl
The Sisiutl is one of the most powerful crests, and mythological creatures in the mythology of the Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, Skwxwu7mesh and various other Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, and figures prominently in their art, dances and songs...
-like animal: a land-otter or bear head at both ends of the tube, and an anthropomorphic face in the middle. This form may have represented the ability to shift shapes, or the mythological land-otter canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
, implying the ability to travel between the three realms: air/god realm (kijek), earth/human/animal realm (takijek), and water/spirit realm (tekijek). The land-otter was the source of all shamanic power.
A shaman's helper spirit may have resided in the central head.
The soulcatcher was plugged at both ends with shredded cedar
Cedar wood
Cedar wood comes from several different trees that grow in different parts of the world, and may have different uses.* California incense-cedar, from Calocedrus decurrens, is the primary type of wood used for making pencils...
bark, to contain the lost soul, or to hold a malevolent spirit "sucked out" of a patient. The amulet was usually worn as a necklace
Necklace
A necklace is an article of jewellery which is worn around the neck. Necklaces are frequently formed from a metal jewellery chain. Others are woven or manufactured from cloth using string or twine....
. Soulcatchers ranged in length from 16 cm to 21.6 cm (6" to 8").
There are a few examples of wood soulcatchers, and a Haida example covered with copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
sheeting.
Use
Sickness incurable by secular (herbal) means was believed to be caused by "soul loss" through:- Dreaming, which was thought to be the soul leaving the body and traveling to the spirit world. If the soul was unable to return to the body by morning (due to disorientation or supernatural interference), chronic illness would follow.
- Being frightened out of the body
- Being enticed out by witchcraftWitchcraftWitchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
To cure the patient, the shaman would wear the soulcatcher as a necklace. He would then travel to the spirit world by calling helper spirits using trance
Trance
Trance denotes a variety of processes, ecstasy, techniques, modalities and states of mind, awareness and consciousness. Trance states may occur involuntarily and unbidden.The term trance may be associated with meditation, magic, flow, and prayer...
music, employing helper-spirit masks, and magical implements such as staffs. Shaman might also work in groups, constructing a representation of a shaman's Land-Otter canoe and "dantsikw
Dantsikw
Dantsikw are dance props of the first nations Kwakwaka'wakwa people of British Columbia, Canada. These boards were employed in during the Winter Ceremonials...
" spirit boards (see sisiutl
Sisiutl
The Sisiutl is one of the most powerful crests, and mythological creatures in the mythology of the Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, Skwxwu7mesh and various other Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, and figures prominently in their art, dances and songs...
) as a vehicle to travel to the spirit world. Once the errant soul was located, the shaman would "suck" the soul into the soulcatcher, and return to the patient. The soul would then be "blown" back into the patient.
Another use of the soulcatcher was to suck malevolent spirits out of a patient.
External links
- http://www.artnet.com/Magazine/features/karlins/Images/karlins9-1-5.jpg
- http://www.northwestcoastindian.com/ivories.html
- http://www.artnet.com/magazine/features/stern/stern5-27-04.asp