Dantsikw (power boards) are dance props of the

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

Kwakwaka'wakwa people of

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, in Canada. These boards were employed during the Winter Ceremonials (Tseka). In the Tuxwid ("One Who Traveled") warrior ceremony, the initiates would demonstrate supernatural powers granted by Winalagilis by summoning Dantsikw power boards from underground, and making them disappear again. This act commemorates

Winalagalis {{no footnotes, date=March 2016 Winalagalis is a war god of the Kwakwaka'wakw native people of British Columbia. He travels the world, making war. Winalagilis comes from North (underworld) to winter with the Kwakwaka'wakw (formerly known, incorre ...

' supernatural canoe that could travel underground. Shamans might also use dantsikw to construct a representation of the Land-Otter canoe as a vehicle to travel to the spirit world.

References

* Boas, Franz. "Kwakiutl Ethnography." 1966. University of Chicago Press. London. *Boas, Franz. "Social Organization and the Secret Societies of the Kwakiutl Indians." 1897. Smithsonian Institution. Washington D.C. * Jonaitis, Aldona, ed. "Chiefly Feasts: The Enduring Kwkaiutl Potltach." 1991. AMHH. Seattle. Kwakwaka'wakw mythology First Nations in British Columbia First Nations culture {{NorthAm-myth-stub