SXÁNEL - BULLHEAD MOON (April - May)

This moon represents the visibility of SXÁNEL or what westerners call Orion's Belt. The moon's hair represents a strong wind that comes at this time and the swallows that arrive with the wind.

CONNECTIONS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In this moon, the PIOTEL (a group of three starts in Orion's belt called the Duck Hunters) appears on the horizon. During the SXÁNEL there are strong winds, the bullhead (a type of sculpin) appear on the shore and the swallows arrive.

WEATHER

This is the season where good weather is the norm. However, these days can bring sudden thunder and lightning storms.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

People spent more time on and around the water. During the moon the Elder women knew how to take their baskets to the beach and gather bullheads from under the rocks. The women would pole sticks under the rocks and big bullheads would say "SKA", which is their name. The bullhead was deemed a great delicacy.

This was also a great time for harvesting seaweed LEKES).

The halibut fishery ended because the halibut spawned during this moon. The grouse hatched and the larger/older grouse could easily be snared in the woods.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT