Tsimshian individuals who broke the “laws” of the societies were killed, while, as with most other groups, death was threatened for unauthorized people trespassing near ritual locations or into secret society rituals, especially if they discovered the “tricks” used in demonstrations of supernatural powers during performances (Halpin 1984 :287– 8). Tsimshian technical assistants could also be killed if they botched special supernatural effects so that the supernatural display became apparent to spectators as an artifice. Halpin reports one incident where an entire crew of technicians committed suicide rather than face their fate at the hands of the elites after one such effect failed. According to Garfield and Wingert (1977 :41), “recipients of secret society power were dangerous to all who had not been initiated by the same spirits.” The initiates to the Xaihais Kwakwakawakw Cannibal Society were told: Now you are seeing all the things the chiefs use. You must remember to take care not to reveal the secrets of the Shamans [society members]. You must abide by the rules of the work of the chiefs. These things you see before you will kill you if you break the rules of the dance. If you make a mistake your parents will die, all your relatives will die. (Drucker 1941 :213) The use of power to kill transgressors of society “rules” was viewed as “evil” by at least some community members (Drucker 1941 :221; also A. Mills, and Maggie Carew, personal communication). Among the Owikeno Kwakwakawakw, Olson (1954 :217,234,240,241) reported similar killings or beatings for breaking the rules of the dances. The Quinault punished smiling and laughing during their secret society performances by painfully deforming the offender’s mouth, dragging him of her around the fire by the hair, gashing their arms, and blackening their face. Snoops or intruders into their ritual preparation room were reportedly killed (Olson 1936 :121–2).