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 (String Length: ¾ span)
1  2  3  4  5  all © 2012 ISFA. All rights reserved.		Full-length video. Instructions are from: Kwakiutl String Figures, by Julia Averkieva and Mark A. Sherman (1992). Seattle: University of Washington Press.