Dance Baton

Painted dance baton carried by a presenter in conducting the ceremonial dance songs. The thin, wooden body is designed to flex as it moves which then tells the dancers how to react. A killer whale's head is carved into the lower end of the baton. Fringe along the back of the lower end is made from hair and may represent the breath of the whale. A circle toward the center of the baton is used to identify the whale. On the front, a bird is painted at the lower end looking toward what may be a salmon at the upper end. A similar design is repeated on the reverse.