79 
CARVER 
It was carved by a Gitwinlkul artist, named Raenem,* of the same 
phratry — -the Larhsail. It counts among the best carvings of the Skeena. 
It is treated with vivid power and definiteness. Although its style conforms 
to the current conventions, it is remarkably ingenious and original. The 
figure of the Frog-woman, ’Neegyamks, with the tiny frogs creeping out 
of her mouth, over her eyes, and on her body, is certainly one of the most 
artistic and impressive illustrations ever made of a native myth on the 
whole of the North West Coast. 
POLES OF THE FI REWEED PHRATRY 
(19) Poles of Gurhsan, at Gitsegyukla 
OWNERS 
The family of Gurhsan is one of the most ancient in Gitsegyukla. It 
originated at Temlaham, according to the tradition, and claims as an 
ancestress the orphan-maiden Skawah, who was taken up to the sky by 
Sunbeams as his human bride. It is among the few families that settled 
at Gitsegyukla after the downfall of Temlaham and forms part of what 
may be termed the Sky clan of the Fireweed phratry, a remarkable and 
widely known clan on the North West Coast. Gurhsan ranks among its 
most authentic representatives, retaining as he does to this day, some 
of its original privileges. 
The Sky clan consists of several ramifications that have grown out of 
one another and have spread in the course of time to the three Tsimsyan 
nations. Its members consider each other, from their genealogy, as blood 
relatives, the more definite their ties when they belong to the same branch 
of the clan. Dan Gurhsan, the present holder of the title of Gurhsan, 
claims as his kinsmen the following chiefs at home and abroad: Hahpeg- 
wawtu of Gitsegyukla; Gitludahl and Aret of Kispayaks; Teweesemdzap, 
among the Babines; Semaw’iget-Gyamk, of Hagwelget; Ysel, of Gitwinlkul; 
Weesaiks, of Gitwinksilk (Nass); a part of the Niyuks family of-Gitrhatin 
(Nass); Hail, of Gitrhahla; Saiks, of Ginarhangyeek; Neesnawea, of 
Gillodzar; and Nees-tarhawk, of Kitsalas. Most of these, it is clear, 
are merely clan relations, their traditions and privileges not being wholly 
analogous, owing to their prolonged independent existence. But the 
relationship between Gurhsan and three Fireweed families, in particular 
those of Gitludahl, Wawsemlahse, of Kispayaks, and Harhtisran, of Giten- 
maks, is mutually considered as much closer, all three of them using in 
common the Owl, and special forms of the Moon or the Sun, among their 
emblems. 
The family of Gurhsan owns two totem poles, now standing in the 
lower village of Gitsegyukla. 
‘John Brown believes that James Green (Tsugyet, Wolf phratry) of Kispayaks, was the carver. Green seems 
to have been connected in some way with the preparation of this pole; but he himself stated that Raenem was the 
actual carver. This name, record^ from Green by Beynon, baa not yet been identified on our list of names and 
we cannot state to what Gitwinlkul family he belonged. 
