Mask

Item number 1382/3 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

A carved wooden mask with a rounded and protruding forehead, chin, mouth and nose. The face is painted white with green around the eye, nose, and chin areas. There are three green semi-circles along the top of the forehead. The eyebrows are painted black, and the nostrils are painted red. Holes are along the sides of the ears, in the middle of the eyes, and there are two slits in the red mouth. The cedar bark 'hair' is attached loosely. There's a nail at the top of the forehead where the hair attaches.

History Of Use

Winter wren dance mask. Used in the Sisawk (chiefly potlatch) ceremonies by a family who has the winter wren in their smayusta (ancestral history); also part of kusyut (secret society) dance, with S7ayulh -the Thunder Being. Winter wren would dance with S7ayulh and other creatures, like owl, snail and mosquito.