Sisiyutl is a powerful, terrifying double-headed serpent that guards the
house of the sky people. Sisiyutl symbolizes duality and contradiction:
it is a death-dealer but can also bestow power. It can transform into a
fish or a self-propelled canoe, and its glance can kill or turn an enemy
to stone.
Sisiyutl is also a spirit helper who is called upon to make warriors powerful
and invulnerable. Warriors wear headbands and belts with the image of Sisiyutl.
In the Winalagalis (War Spirit) ceremonies of the Kwakwaka'wakw, Sisiyutl
is one of the warrior's attendants, called forth by the Tuxw'id (female war dancer).
After catching a Sisiyutl, a person must throw sand on it, not touch it directly,
tie it securely and never have it in the house. Keeping it in water produces potent
medicine; washing with the water brings health and longevity. Families that claim
Sisiyutl as a crest may own parts of its body, which bestow great powers on the
bearer. bits of glittery mica found on the shore are sometimes called Sisiyutl scales.
Sisiyutl is usually shown horizontally as a double-headed serpent, the heads at
each end in profile displaying wolfish features, long tongues and a single curly
horn-like appendage. The creature's middle is usually a human-like face, with
two curly horns. Among the Nuxalk, Sisiyutl is noted for its well-sculpted
features and deep blue coloring. The image of Sisiyutl, in abstract form,
also appears on power board.
