Grand Vestibule: The British Monarchy and the World
The Grand Vestibule at Windsor Castle reflects interaction between the monarchy and the wider world
HARRIS SMITH LALKAWILAS (1942-2005)
Klee Wyck (Laughing One)
1994RCIN 69143
A killer whale was the official mascot of the XV Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, in 1994. This wooden model of the mascot is called Klee Wyck, which means 'laughing one'. Its bold black, white and red colours are typical of artwork produced by the Kwakwaka'wakw people indigenous to the region.
Harris Smith (1942–2005) was an artist from the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations cultural group. He has signed this work with the name Lalkawilas ('Chief Who Feasts the People til Morning').
It was presented to Queen Elizabeth II by the organisers of the XV Commonwealth Games in Canada, 13-22 August 1994.
