The Swai-Xway, oil on linen, 59" x 56" by Richard Walking Buffalo* Tylman
*) Name 'Walking Buffalo' (Mostos Takohtêw) was bestowed upon Richard Tylman by Master of Ceremonies Okimaw Piyesiw Awasis (Cree chief Thunderchild) at the Tsawwassen Nehiyaw Matot'sân on the Tsawwassen Lands Reserve in Vancouver on 19 May 2018.(close pop-up)
Assisted by birds and himself joyously dancing, Swai-Xway stands as one of the most prominent Gods of the Pacific NorthWest. His benevolence and his healing powers are best known among the First Nations from the Comox valley and surrounding regions. Swai-Xway rules the fresh water lakes of Coastal BC, lakes known for providing refuge for a variety of birds, and serving as a source of joy for every weary human wanderer as well.
But the powers of Swai-Xway can not be underestimated since he's the one who triggers earthquakes, especially when left unattended. Swai-Xway loves the company of singing women. They can make him forget his fury, and instead, inspire him to offer his magic of perpetual youth to all humankind.
Background
There are dozens of alternative spellings of Swai-Xway (Salish; pronounced sqhway-way), or Kwekwe (non Salish), due to his long-lasting presence among nations speaking many different languages. For example, in 1888 Franz Boas wrote about Xoa´exoe and Xa´egoe when recapping the myth for the first time in German (translated in 1977). The Pacific Northwest coast Kwakiutl people (Kwagu´l) used to perform a spirit dance of Kwekwe (Xwixwi) by not just one, but four dancers, each of whom would inherit some of his healing powers: one, at times of birth, another at weddings, or the naming ceremonies, and a separate one at curing illness.
Sxwayxwey dance (Cowichan) by E. Curtis from BC Archives
Swai-Xway, Sxwayxwey or Xwixwi figure is characterized by features which are recognizable, including telescopic eyes for his transcendental far-seeing, a bird's beak for a nose (or its entire head), and sometimes a bird (or bird heads) in place of horns. His facial features include green paint around the eyes, red nostrils, a blood-red mouth, protruding tongue, and strong eyebrows. In the Kwakwakawakw (Kwakiutl) form of the Salish Sxwayxwey (Xwixwi) the mask, aside from protruding cylindrical eyes, features the hooked nose, and the recurving tongue.
Like the mask; the Swai-Xway dance most likely originated from the Salish. In spiritual cleansing rites performed by peoples of the Pacific Northwest, Sxwayxwey dances were proprietary and either inherited, or obtained some other way. The Kwakiutl got their Kwekwe dance by showing up on the Comox's doorstep ready for battle, and were granted the dance and the appurtenant ritual equipment including masks and rattles in exchange for peace.
