“Genada”

Though small in stature, the frog holds significance in the many northwest coast nations. 

The Genda (frog) has been adopted as a crest by several Gitxsan Wilps (Matrilineal house groups) throughout the Skeena, taken from the Adaawak (oral histories). 

This crest commemorates an event in which a woman disappeared; they discovered that the woman was taken by the frogs. They drained the lake and discovered she was turning into a frog. 

Frog represent the idea of transformation in some aspects,as well as the ability to live on both water and land. The frogs are revered for their adaptability and power to live both in the natural and supernatural realm, frogs are considered as the spirit messengers for the shamans. 

Frogs are known  as the communicator between mother earth and man. He is considered the only child to mother earth. Frogs are often used to represent the voice of the people; being this creature is very vocal, its songs are considered by some to contain power and great magic. 

My design has connected the idea of “the voice of the people” to the frog. The face that the frog carries on its back being the messenger and voice.