Gyidakhanis mask

Tsetseka the winter dance cycle, is both the going inward winter season and the presentation of many tsekas, sacred dances. NW Coast Native Americans observed a two cycle year that mirrored the Northwind people of Scandinavia (October- April & April- October). But where Scandinavians used sun and stars to measure the season against the stone circle, Native Americans observed, listened, felt the changes which mark the shift of season.

In October the Tsetseka wind blows in off the Pacific, boils up into the tops of firs, and you feel it as it moves through you, hairs lift on the back of the neck, there is a peculiar clench in the abdomen, a shiver of recognition. The Earth may still be warm and the sun shining but the body recognizes Wind’s message, time to go inward.

The people prepared for the long winter full of dark and wet. As storms rolled over the Pacific the people were warm in their Longhouses. They took on their tsetseka roles. changed identities, names to match their activities during the inward season. Those of the secret societies carved their masks and readied their costumes.

At the time of winter solstice the stories were presented to the clan. The stories were elaborate requiring participation of the audience. Nuances were subtle, changes of breath, a slap of foot upon plank, all were relevant. The Cosmology of the NW Coast was plastic, so while the stories appeared the same every year there were slight changes, reflecting new wisdom incorporated into old tales. Echo, mosquito, everything and anything could become a mask, part of the dances, part of the transfer of wisdom.

In April, a new song is heard coming from the forest. Frogs begin to sing and the Salish say, “six weeks the Salmon run.” It does not matter where along the coast you live, when the frogs begin their singing six weeks later Salmon flow into the creeks heading to the Pacific. Bakus the flowing outward, summer cycle has arrived. The people of the Longhouses once again changed their identities and names to match the season and moved out into the green world.

If we listen, the Earth and her kindred speak to us. We are part of the whole and when we listen to the songs of Water, songs of Wind and Earth we become whole in our part.