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History Of Use

Worn by Hamats!a dancer.

Iconographic Meaning

Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Galugwadzawe', servant of Baxbakwalanuksiwe', Cannibal at the north end of the world.

Description

Carved wooden, crooked beak mask. The beak has large red, tear shaped nostrils outlined in back and bordered by red u-forms. Running from the brow is a large central black frill that protrudes outward and curves inward to the centre of the beak. The ridge, along with below the eye and the edge of the mouth, are lined with black u-forms outlined in white. The mouth is red, flat and protruding. The bottom parts of the beak are hinged with rectangular pieces of rubber. The eyes are black, outlined in white on a white ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. The underside of the beak is black. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of a piece of fibre twine that articulates the beak. Attached at the top inner tip is a small bundle of small stripes of cedar bark; intertwined are feathers. Hanging from the bottom edge are pieces of twine that hold remnants of cedar strips. The mask is painted black, white and red with Northwest Coast stylized forms.

Narrative

According to Bill Holm, the mask was made by Charlie George Sr. for Tom Omhid when Humchitt was Hamats!a for Tom (Bill Holm). Chief Jim Humchitt was living in Fort Rupert when he sold his collection to MOA, however Gloria Cranmer Webster listed him as being from Smith Inlet and Hope Island.