Woctolly Dream Spirit
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
6" x 9"
COLLECTION OF THE ARTIST
Copyright by the artist
THE SALMON MERMAN OF THE FEATHER RIVER
Woctolly, or Waktali, is the name of a shaman who was discovered
in the fishing nets of some Concow Maidu fishermen on the Middle
Fork of the Feather River. The lower portion of his body was that of
a salmon, and as such, he could well be described as a merman.
The ceramic mask below was previously posted on my blog. It is the
mask of Woctolly.
Mask of Woctolly
by Eric Whollem
Photo copyright by the artist
Another ceramic that relates to the story of Woctolly is 'The Mother of
Woctolly,' also seen on Art Blog/Eric Whollem @
This link gives some interesting cross-cultural parallels of Maidu
legend with international lore of the salmon, mermaids and mermen.
The Mother of Woctolly
by Eric Whollem
Photo copyright by the artist
The painting of Woctolly above includes a number of deer surrounding
the central figure of the shaman. The deer is very auspicious to the Maidu.
It symbolizes friendship. The deer is called Sumi. Depicted also are the
steep cliffs of the Middle Fork of the Feather River, a very inaccessible
area. The Middle Fork is called Supi Poboku.
Woctolly was a bit of a trickster among men. But he appears in images
painted on the sweat lodges of some California Native Americans.
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Read more about the CONCOW MAIDU INDIANS:
Concow Maidu Video.
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