The Bluejay

Collected by Julia Averkieva from the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) of Vancouver Island, Canada. According to local tradition all people are derived from animal spirits living in the sky. This figure represents Bluejay Woman, who lives in the doorless supernatural house of the son of the Sun. After treating male visitors to dried berries, she eats their pupils and sucks their brains out.

<Full-length video in Windows Media Player>

Step-by-Step Video Clips

Written Instructions

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Step 3 - R1, from above, enters the L1 loop and hooks L1n to the right to create an R1 loop.

Bent R1 picks up the two strings that run from R345 to the L palmar knot and draws them through the R1 loop, which slips off as R1 returns to an upright position.