Kwakiutl Legends


Kwakiutl legends are related to tribes like the Nootka and Heiltsuk tribes, which have many very similar oral traditions.

Common Characters in Kwakiutl Legends

Anekelak (also spelled Kánekelak, Kanikwi’lakw, Kaniki’lakw, Q!aneqelaku, Q’aneqelakw, Q!â’nêqi’laxu, K’anig yilak’, and other ways): The Transformer figure of Kwakwaka’wakw mythology, who brought balance to the world by using his powers to change people, animals, and the landscape into the forms they have today.

Raven (Kwekwaxa’we in the Kwakiutl language, also spelled Kewkwaxa’we or Kwêkwaxâ’wê): Raven is the culture hero of the Kwakiutl and other Northwest Coast tribes. He is a benevolent figure who helps the people, but at the same time, he is also a trickster character and many Kwakwaka’wakw stories about Raven have to do with his frivolous or poorly thought out behavior getting him into trouble.

Tsunukwa (also spelled Dzunukwa, Dzoo-noo-qua, Dzoonokwa, Dsonoqua, Dzô’noqwa, Dzô’noq!wa, D’Sonoqua, and other ways): The Basket Ogress, a giant cannibal monster who catches human children and carries them off in her enormous pack basket.

Bukwus (also spelled Bakwas, Bookwus, Bukwis, Buk’wus, Pugwis, Pu Gwis, Pu’gwis, and other ways): A skeletal, long-haired wild man of Kwakiutl legend. Bukwus is sometimes mistakenly identified with the Salishan Sasquatch, but the two creatures are extremely different.

Bukwus is actually a ghost associated with drowning victims (sometimes known as the “King of Ghosts” or “Man of the Sea”), who tries to tempt humans into eating ghost food and therefore becoming bukwus themselves.

Kwakiutl Oral Stories

  • The Creation of the World
  • The First People
  • The Coming of the White Man
  • The Battle of the Gods
  • The Story of Coyote
  • The Story of Eagle
  • The Story of Bear
  • The Story of Snake
  • The Story of Water Monster
  • The Story of Thunderbird
  • The Story of the Sun
  • The Story of the Moon
  • The Story of the Stars
  • The Story of the Earth
  • The Story of the Sky
  • The Story of the Medicine Man
  • The Story of the Warrior
  • The Story of the Love Triangle
  • The Story of the Jealous Husband
  • The Story of the Brave Hunter
  • The Story of the Wise Woman
  • The Story of the Trickster
  • The Story of the Two Brothers
  • The Story of the Talking Fish
  • The Story of the Lost Child
  • The Story of the Magic Canoe
  • The Story of the Grateful Buffalo
  • The Story of the Wise Old Woman
  • The Story of the Trickster and the Crow
  • The Story of the Trickster and the Salmon
  • The Story of the Trickster and the Bear
  • The Story of the Trickster and the Coyote
  • The Story of the Cannibal Giant
  • The Story of the Sea Monster
  • The Story of the Whale
  • The Story of the Thunderbird
  • The Story of the Raven
  • The Story of the Sun and Moon
  • The Story of the Stars
  • The Story of the Earth and Sky
  • The Story of the First People
  • The Story of the Coming of the White Man