Kawadilikala was the original ancestor of the Dzawada'enuxw People. In the
form of wolves, he traveled with his younger brother Kwalili and their
families down from the mountains into the Kingcome Valley. Kawadilikala
chose to make his home there and Kwalili traveled on to Wakeman Sound. He
established a community there and became the original ancestor of the
Haxwa'mis. When Kawadilikala was alone he wished for a house and two sets
of humans rose up from the river to form his houseposts. Then two sisi'ul
rose up and draping themselves over the heads of the humans became the
housebeams.
This formed the foundation of Kawadilikala's house. This is why there is a
sisiu'l over the doorway of the new house. Kawadilikala then wished to
visit his brother. A canoe appeared on the river. It had a sisi'ul on it
as well. When Kawadilikala tapped on this supernatural canoe it moved on
its own to where he wished to go. This canoe is painted above the doorway
of Hi'manis. Though Kawadilikala's canoe moved without paddles in
supernatural times, today we need the efforts of human strength. For this
reason, four paddles are painted outside of the main door, each one
representing one of the four tribes of the 'Musgamakw Dzawada'enuxw.
At another time Kwalili played with Kawadilikala in Gwa-yi - Kingcome
Inlet. They played with a quartz crystal, throwing it back and forth.
Eventually, Kawadilikala missed and the crystal flew up onto the mountain
Xwi'la'etlida. When this happened Kawadilikala took one of his children
and transformed her into eagle down. This was scattered about the world
and was the beginning of all the birds. On the new housefront,
Kawadilikala and Kwalili, in the form of wolves, play with the quartz
crystal.
Important Information
