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THE TOTEM POLES 
VOLES OF THE LARHSAIL (FROG-RAVEN) PHRATRY 
(1) Poles of Kweenu, at Gitwinlkul 
OWNERS 
Kweenu and his family belong to the Frog-woman or ’Neegyamks 
clan of the Haven phratry. They seem to have preserved the traditions 
of the clan better than any other of their relatives in other tribes and are 
its most typical representatives. 
Their clan relatives abroad are, according to their own claim: on 
Nass river: Hai’mas of Gitrhatin;^ Trharhamlarhset, Ksemrhsan, and 
Maslegyse’ns, of Gitlarhdamks; on Skeena river: Lselt, of Kitwanga; and, 
possibly Harhii, of Kispayaks.^ 
As Ksemrhsan, of Gitlarhdamks, is their kinsman, it follows that the 
descendants of Ksemrhsan are also related laterally to Kweenu; we mean, 
the members of the Tongue-licked (Nceqt) clan: Arhkawt, of Kitwanga 
(whose family is now part of that of Hlengwah) ; Rarhs-rabarhs or Wistis, 
of Gitsegyukla; and Naeqt or Haray or Taelramuk, of Kispayaks. 
The first part of their traditions of origin, besides, is so similar to those 
of the Tongue-licked clan, that it may be considered as a ramification 
of the same original accounts. 
Kweenu and his family own eight totem poles at Gitwinlkul, half of 
which are of unusually good quality. No other family among the Tsimsyan 
can boast of as many poles to commemorate its dead. 
DESCRIPTION 
The eight poles of Kweenu and his family are the following: (1) the 
Raven-soaring (Qansil); (2) the Eagle-person (Gyoedem-rhskycek); (3) the 
Cane (Qaat); (4) the Starfish-person (Gycedem-ramats ); (5) All-frogs 
(Trha-ranaa'o)] (6) the Raven-drum (Qaqawm'anuhl)', (7) the Starfish- 
person (Gycedem-ramats) ; and (8) Drifted-aside j. These poles 
stand together in two clusters at the northern end of the old village of 
Gitwinlkul; two of them (Plate IV, figures 3, 5) stand by themselves, near 
the river bank. 
Ulai'maa and Kweenu were among those that formerly lived at the prehistoric village of Antegwawlse, below 
Fishery bay, on the Na^. 
sllarhu claimed Kweenu as a relative; but no mention was made of him, as a relative, in the family of Kweenu. 
They own in common the crests of the Frog-woman, the Frogs, the Water-lily, and the myths explaining their 
origin, which in itself is a sign of genetic relationship. 
