Many First Nations people believed in the oneness of all Earth's creatures. They believed that animals could supernaturally take on human form at will and that humans could do the same. Thus in this carving, the human face in the dorsal fin could be a reminder that the Orca has transformed from human or that it is able to do so. This face is a personal trademark used by Kwakwaka'waka First Nation artist Cecil Dawson. As a commercial fisherman, spending many years on a fishing boat, Cecil experienced seeing Killer Whales many times.