of Land-Otter-Man

Used on the prow of a large war canoe, this figure of Land-Otter-Man is pointing ahead to indicate the safe direction for the canoe to take.  Land-Otter-Man's association with the sea was established in Tlingit mythology, where he rescues the souls of drowning people and turns them into land otters. Country of Origin: Northwest Coast of America. Culture: Tlingit. Date/Period: 1852-1875. Place of Origin: Chilkroot, Alaska. Material Size: cedar wood, abalone, human hair. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/ Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, New York, USA. Location: 16.