Exhibit Label

This Kwa' Laba Kuth, or Wildman, mask represents one of the ghost-like forest spirits that appear during the Makah Klookwalli ceremonial. Similar ghost-like spirits are represented in mask form among neighboring tribes: Pukmis and Ahlmako of the Nuu-chah-nulth, the Bukwus of the Kwakiutl. Their ghostly qualities are sometimes represented by skull-like heads with hooked noses and bared teeth in grimacing mouths.