Bird Headdress

Item number A4036 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Data
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This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Headdress with a swan on top of a sisiutl. The wings of the swan sit horizontally at its sides, and the tail has a face design near the end. The back of the bird has three holes in it. Below the bird is a sisiutl facing forward with two curled ears protruding in front of the bird, and there are two figures with curled noses in profile on the sides, each with a curled ear protruding upwards. Painted in red, green, black and dark yellow.

Iconographic Meaning

The bird was determined to be a swan based on its attributes of having an extra long neck (without the 'necklace' that a loon would have), a flat head, and a lack of paint to emphasize the whiteness of the bird.

Narrative

The swan crest comes from the Mountain family's origin story. Borrowed back by relations of Chief Harry Mountain for memorial potlatches in 1993 and 1996, and for a naming ceremony in 2000.