dłam (Interior House Post)

This post stood inside a house and supported a main beam. Figures represented on house posts were often supernatural beings which the family living in the house had the right, through their history and origins, to display as a family privilege.

The posts of the unfinished house of Ha'm'cit were carved by a man from Smith Inlet called Si.wit who moved to Xu'mtaspi and married Tom Omhyid's mother. Ha'm'cit died before the house was finished. (Information provided to Prof. W. Duff by Mungo Martin.) The artist's potlatch name was P'aczsmaxw. Wayne Suttles places the Xu'mtaspi village as Nahwitti, in historic times, however it was occupied jointly by the Nahwitti, the Yalhinuxw, and the Noqemqilisala (of Hanson Lagoon).

status

According to Tom Omhyid, the snake was a Sisiutl, a serpent, often represented with 2 heads and associated with wealth and power. The sisiutl was the belt of qa'niqilakw.

Large wooden house post carved in high relief. Represented is a large human figure with large engraved ovoid shaped eyes, protruding nose and mouth; the arms are holding a serpent in lower front. The snake is long, has a carved nose and a curled tail. The figure is standing upon a human head with sunken eyes, protruding nose and partially pursed lips.