Tsonokwa Woman

contemporary art

Dzunuk'wa is a member of the large family of giants who live in the far away mountains and woods. Black in colour, with bushy, unkempt hair and a pursed mouth through which she utters the cry Hu! Hu!, she is a terrifying and threatening creature. She carries a huge basket on her back in which she puts the disobedient children she steals, taking them to her home to eat them. However, the children usually outwit her, as she is vain, stupid and clumsy. In another aspect, Dzunuk'wa is the possessor of the “Water-of-Life”, a gift she would bestow on people fortunate enough to encounter and overcome her. Her most important role is the bringer of wealth and good fortune. In the Winter Ceremonies, Dzunuk'wa appears in two forms. As a dancer in the T'seka, she is a shaggy lumbering creature with half shut eyes. She is not awake enough to dance the normal four circuits around the fire, but staggers in the wrong direction and when escorted to her seat, she falls asleep. In her other role, she carries a basket of coppers that she gives to the Chief who is giving them away.

Image of Dzunuk'wa (dznuk̓wamł). Female figure kneeling on one knee and holding the two-headed serpent, Sisiutl. Woman's face is in profile, to the right. Sisiutl is shown in frontal position. Numbered and titled in pencil, 52/200.