This carving of an orca, or killer whale, was worn on the head by a dancer, who could roll its eyes or move its lower jaw during a theatrical performance. No Northwest Coast tribe actively hunted killer whales, the largest members of the dolphin family.

In general, Tlingit people did not hunt whales. Only the southern peoples of the west coast of Vancouver Island and the Washington Olympic Peninsula hunted these animals in large ocean-going canoes.

Cedar?, raw and tanned hide, sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) whiskers, abalone (Haliotis sp.) shell, iron, mineral paints; L 51.0 x W 18.1 x H 16.3 cm; 3178-38