The Sisiutl is one of the most powerful crests, and mythological creatures in the Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Coast Salish pantheons. The sisiutl (or sisiyutl) often appears in Pacific Northwest Indian folk art, legends, and songs. Sisiutl are frequently depicted as a two headed sea serpent or snake with an anthropomorphic head (and hands) in the middle of the body. All three heads are surmounted by “horns of power” (also seen on thunderbirds).

The Sisiutl’s form may have biological inspiration from the local Rubber Boa, which has a false head on its tail. NWC whalers told of a powerful whaling charm, a black two headed “worm.” The soulcatcher of the northern Tsimshian, Tlingit, and Haida peoples exhibits the same body form.
[Posted at: Sisiutl]