Considering developments in recent linguistic theories, it seems possible to construct logical arguments for a nontransformational origin of Kwak̓wala passive constructions. Major structural features of Kwak̓wala are reviewed & major passive constructions are introduced. Next, rules that would account for a transformation of passives are considered & the difficulties inherent in the statement of these rules are noted. Using parallel relative clauses in other languages, it is shown that these relatives should be based-generated, & it is also argued that since relatives often have passive form, a nonsentential source for relatives implies a nonsentential source for passives, indicating that they are not transformationally derived. Alternative sources are discussed, & it is concluded that the Kwak̓wala passive is of lexical origin. 5 Figures. I. Mielonen