{"product_id":"supernatural-halibut-man","title":"Supernatural Halibut Man","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Supernatural Halibut Man Mask was hand-carved by Kwakwaka'wakw artist James Kwaksistala. It has been carved from red cedar, painted in black, green, and red acrylic and features cedar bark, a prominent crystal, orange glass beads and dentalium shell. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e’Namxxiyalegiyu\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eLong ago, a man was warned through a dream sent by the Creator that a great flood was coming. In the dream he was instructed to go to the ocean and wait, because a powerful being would rise from the depths to help him.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eWhen the rains began and the waters covered the land, the sea brought forth ’Namxxiyalegiyu, a vast supernatural\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003ehalibut\u003c\/span\u003e-like being whose name is often translated as “something terrible” or “fearsome one.” The creature was immense — so large that when it surfaced, the tides throughout the world were said to fall back.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe man climbed onto the back of this great sea being. Compared to it, he was small and vulnerable. As the flood continued, ’Namxxiyalegiyu protected him beneath the ocean and enabled him to survive in the underwater world — a gift made possible through the Creator’s power.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eWhen the waters finally receded, the great being returned the man to his homeland. Discovering that no other people remained, he took the name Namukustolis, meaning “Only One in the World.” He came ashore near the mouth of what is now known as the Nimpkish River.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eBecause of this act of protection and survival, ’Namxxiyalegiyu became a foundational crest and ancestral figure for the ’Namgis First Nation. The Nation’s name is understood to derive from this powerful being and the origin story connected to it.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mask measures approximately 18 inches or 46 centimeters high, 16 inches or 41 centimeters wide, and 8 inches or 20 centimeters deep including the protruding crystal. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"James Kwaksistala","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51177132032315,"sku":"Medicine Man Mask by James Kwaksistala","price":3662.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0768\/2931\/files\/SupernaturalHalibutMan1.jpg?v=1776365865","url":"https:\/\/spiritsofthewestcoast.com\/en-de\/products\/supernatural-halibut-man","provider":"Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}