Exhibit Label

Spirit of the Ancestors-The Gagiit mask is a person that almost drowned and he was able to survive the cold waters but it changed him into a wild man. There are stories also of changing him back to human form again. - Reg Davidson

Masks like this one are used by several Haida dance groups today as their initial performance to clear the air-the dancers screaming when the frightening supernatural being enters the hall, appearing as a giant hairy monster. By chasing him out, the air is cleared, and the performance goes on.