The Dogfish/Shark Woman

The Native Dogfish Symbol or Shark Woman Symbol represents one of the most powerful and elusive supernatural beings of Haida mythology, a powerful shaman. The story of how she became a shaman of extraordinary power is now lost, but we know that her power came from the spirit of the Dogfish, of the Shark family.

Dogfish or Shark Woman Symbol and First Nations

The most well-known story about the Shark or Dogfish Woman tells the story of a noble Haida Woman carried off by a Dogfish Man, who brought her into his undersea village where she stayed and slowly transformed into a Dogfish Woman.  In her mythical transformation into a Shark, she always kept some of her human features like her human head with a hooked nose and a labret in her bottom lip. As a transformational supernatural being, she is able to transform herself back again into her human form. She became the royal ancestor of the Haida families who now claim the Shark or Dogfish Mother as their crest.

Native Art - The Dogfish Symbol

Spirits of the West Coast Native Art Gallery sells Dogfish or Shark Woman Symbol prints, Native American Jewelry, Dogfish or Shark Woman Native carvings, Dogfish or Shark Woman ceremonial masks, gold and silver bracelets and bentwood boxes, all inspired by the Dogfish or Shark Woman Symbol.

Contributions

If you have any further information or stories with or about this Native American Symbol or totem and you would like to share them with our readers, please feel free to email them to us. If they are appropriate we will add them to this page. Thank you!