72 
No explanation was given of the other heraldic figure Man-of-comb 
(Gyoedem-aptsce ), which, so far as we know, occurs nowhere else. It is 
a human-like being, with hands raised, palms forwards, with fingers like a 
native wooden comb, and little, round faces in the hands. 
FUNCTION 
This pole was erected from thirty-five to forty years ago^ to com- 
memorate the Mawlarhen who had died previously, and his sister named 
Poking-bullhead^ ( Geehl-rayce ). 
CAEVER 
It was carved by a local artist, Kwaw’amats® (Jimmy Good), of the 
Fireweed phratry, who was still living at Gitsegyukla in 1927. It does 
not rank very high for the quality of its carving. Like most of the modern 
poles of Gitsegyukla, it was almost completely painted when it was erected. 
(16) Pole of Gyaedem-skanees, at Hagwelget 
OWNERS 
Gyaedem-skanees was once the head of three families of the Larhsailyu 
phratry {Larhsail, in Gitksan), in the Hagwelget tribe. The sub-chiefs 
under him were Teeraewen, Hudemerh, and Wutarhkyet.** These chiefs 
now live at Gitwinlkul, and are members of the family of Kweenu. 
Kweenu’s ancestors, in their ancient migration from the north, sojourned 
for a period among the Carriers of Hagwelget, and were received as guests 
or relatives by the family of Gyaedem-skanees.® They all moved together 
to Gitwinlkul at a later date; and they still form part of the same kinship 
unit. Their respective origins, however, seem quite different. Kweenu’s 
ancestors are from the Nass and the seacoast, to the north, whereas 
Gyaedem-skanees forefathers seem to have been of the Wild-rice (Gitan- 
rasrh ) clan of the upper Gitksan. 
The latter's own personal name, meaning Man-of-the-Mountains 
( GyoBdem-skanees ), is Gitksan. And the name of his principal crest — 
Kaigyet — is also Gitksan. It means Strong-man and may be the same 
as Very-strong-man ( Kaidarhgyet )y a spirit-name of the family of Alla-ist, 
of the Larhsail phratry at Kisgagas.® Although we lack explicit corrobor- 
ation on this point, we presume that Gyaedem-skanees is related to the 
members of the Wild-rice clan of the Larhsail phratry among the Gitksan. 
Gyaedem-skanees owns a totem pole — the tallest and the best carved — 
at the canyon of Hagwelget. It stands last in the row, away from the 
mouth of the canyon. 
>Aleo Brown {Warvralaw), one of our informants, was then a young man. 
•A west coast fish, often used as a crest in the Kanhada phratry. 
*A member of the family of Hanamuk. 
‘The same names have presumably been preserved in the Hagwelget tribe to this day. 
•Cf. The poles of Kweenu, origin, p. 31. 
*One of the two uppermost villages of the Gitksan. 
