Supernatural Wolf and Killer Whale Drum
This Transformation of Supernatural Wolf into Killer Whale Drum is by Kwagu’ł artist Calvin Hunt. The drum has a killer whale and wolf design in green and black acrylic.
The drum measures 16 inches or nearly 41 cm across and about 2 1/2 inches or 7cm wide. Materials: Wood, elk hide, and acrylic paint.
Calvin Hunt’s 16-inch drum of painted elk hide depicts the transformation of two supernatural beings central to Nuu-chah-nulth thought and ritual practice. Calvin’s familiarity with these cultural traditions comes through his mother Maxwalaogwa, Emma Hunt. She was the Nuu-chah-nulth daughter of the great Mowochaht Chief and Shaman, Dr. Billy from Yuquot, Friendly Cove. With this heritage, Calvin Hunt's Mowachaht name is Hereditary Chief Nas’a̱m’yus.
Calvin Hunt’s drum design reflects an ancient Nuu-chah-nulth oral tradition of the transformation of a supernatural white Wolf who enters the sea and becomes the first Killer Whale. In some stories, the Orca’s supernatural power allows it to move onto the land and transform into Wolf. The Nuu-chah-nulth translate Ka-ka-win-chealth as “supernatural white Wolf transforming into a Killer Whale.”
On this drum, Calvin Hunt rendered the Killer Whale in dominant green formlines. The whale’s massive head and toothed mouth lunges to the right as the animal breaches the black waves shown on the drum’s upper rim. The whale’s mighty breath explodes in front of its tall dorsal fin. Inside the whale’s body, Calvin Hunt has depicted Wolf in black formlines with the animal’s characteristic long snout, large nostrils, toothed mouth, tall ears, and long tail that curves next to the whale’s bifurcated tail. The wolf’s front and back legs with their clawed paws seem to push through the whale’s body, anticipating the very moment of transforming into a Killer Whale.
Many Northwest Coast First Nations have supernatural Killer Whales or Orcas as important beings in their stories and beliefs. As ancestors, these powerful marine mammals are sometimes regarded as the reincarnation of chiefs. Many nations recount how the whales have a human personification and the ability to transform from human to animal form. In Nuu-chah-nulth winter ceremonials, high-ranking individuals may be initiated in the Klukwana or Wolf ritual that passes on inherited privileges of dances, titles, and names.
According to the Nuu-chah-nulth, Orcas and Wolves share fundamental characteristics: both are half white and half black, are known and admired for their communication skills and wisdom as well as for their hunting prowess, are family-oriented, and travel in socially cohesive groups often led by an alpha female.
Shipping Information
We ship internationally!
Free shipping to the USA and Canada.
The Shipping times mentioned below are estimates for orders that we have in our inventory and are not guaranteed . Shipping to the USA or other international locations may be delayed due to national customs organizations, especially now due to the COVID-19 impact. These delays are not included in the shipping estimates mentioned and are out of our control.
If you have a specific shipping / delivery deadline, please call or email us, to make sure we have the item that you would like to order in stock.
Custom orders or orders for items that we don’t have in our inventory, or don’t have the exact size in stock, will take longer. It usually takes 2 – 4 weeks depending on the individual item and artist, to have individual items carved. Custom orders may take somewhat longer.
International Shipping - items may be subject to customs processing depending on the item's declared value.
Sellers set the item's declared value and must comply with customs declaration laws.
As the buyer, you should be aware of possible:
- delays from customs inspection.
- import duties and taxes which buyers must pay.
- brokerage fees payable at the point of delivery.
Your country's customs office can offer more details.
Regular Shipping:
We usually use Canada Post services without tracking information for our regular shipping option. The delivery standards for surface/air shipping are usually 2 - 9 business days (Canada), 5 - 12 business days (USA), 6 - 35 business days (Europe) and 6-35 business days to the other continents. If your shipping address is remote, delivery times may increase. These delivery standards are estimates and are not guaranteed.
Canada Post International Parcel Surface or Priority Worldwide Express Shipments:
If you would like to find a faster priority / express shipping service, than the ones mentioned in the shopping cart, or if shipping times are less important than the cost, please contact us for a custom shipping quote. Delivery dates mentioned below are approximations that do not include delays due to International Customs or unforeseen circumstances. The delivery standards for Priority™ Worldwide( Usually through FedEx ) are usually 2-3 business days (USA), 3-5 business days (Europe) and 4-6 business days to the other continents. The delivery standards for International Parcel Surface can be up to 7 weeks. If your shipping address is remote, delivery times may increase. These delivery standards are estimates and are not guaranteed.
Canada Post shipping services with tracking numbers can be tracked at the following website: http://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/track/personal/findByTrackNumber?execution=e1s1
Return/Refund Policy
Returns / Cancellation of Custom Orders
If for some reason you are not 100 percent satisfied with the piece of art received, please contact us before you return it. We offer you the opportunity to return it, if you inform us within the first five days after delivery, that you would like to return it.
This offer is under the condition that it is not a custom order, it was not worn, it is in the same condition it was originally shipped and we are informed about the return, before it is shipped back. We will send you a return confirmation.
Custom orders or personalized artwork (with personal message/engraving) are not returnable. Down payments for custom orders are also not refundable, if the artwork has been started.
If you return the item / items from outside of Canada, make sure you specify on the description for customs that it is a return, as well as that the item is made in Canada.
After receiving the returned piece of art, we will refund the full purchase price minus the actual shipping costs and any customs and/or brokerage fees we were charged. Customs and brokerage fees can usually be evaded if you return your purchase with your national postal service. Using FedEx, UPS or any other private shipping company will often lead to customs and/or brokerage fees.
We do accept that for Christmas gifts bought in November and December, the delivery date for our return policy will be December 25th, instead of the actual date your order is delivered. Please contact us on or before December 30th, if you would like to return or exchange your purchase.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase.
Refunds (if applicable)
Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. If everything is ok, we will also notify you of your refund.
If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days.
Late or missing refunds (if applicable)
If you haven’t received a refund yet, first check your bank account again.
Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted.
Next contact your bank. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted.
If you’ve done all of this and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at info@spiritsofthewestcoast.com.
Exchanges (if applicable)
We only replace items if they are defective or damaged at delivery. If you need to exchange it for the same item, send us an email at info@spiritsofthewestcoast.com and send your item to:
Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery, 2926 Back Road, Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 9G9, Canada.
Shipping
To return your product, you should mail your product to:
Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery, 2926 Back Road, Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N9G9, Canada
You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the original cost of shipping it to you will be deducted from your refund.
Always use a trackable shipping service and purchase shipping insurance.
If you return the item / items from outside of Canada, make sure you specify on the description for customs that it is a return, as well as that the item is made in Canada.
We can't guarantee that we will receive your returned item.