Thunderbird Headdress Item Number: A4500 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Carved thunderbird headdress with a pronounced beak, recessed eye sockets and a horn on the mask's right side that has a curled tip. Carved tail panel attaches to top of head, and wing panels attach to the sides. The left side panel and horn were replaced using cedar. Painted in green, yellow, black, red and white.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Thunderbird. The thunderbird is the ga̲lga’lis (first ancestor) of our clan, the Giga̲lg̲a̲m ’na̲mima of the Gwawa’inux̲w. This thunderbird’s name is Gayax̲ala (Coming-down); he lived on top of K’we (Mt. Stephens) and transformed into a man.
Narrative
This Thunderbird headdress appears in an historical photo from Kingcome Inlet in 1938, being worn by head Gwawa'enuxw chief Sisaxolas Alex Morgan. The chiefs were gathered ostensibly to celebrate King George V's coronation, but this was during the time of potlatch prohibition, so the occasion allowed them to mark the coronation with the local Indian Agent present, and then fulfill their own ceremonial obligations after the white authorities left. (Information from W. Wasden Jr., 2013.) Alex Morgan didn't have children of his own, so when he died, he passed his privileges on to his nephew Billy Wilson, eldest son of his sister Annie. In Feb. 2016, Beau Dick carved a new horn and wing for the left side so the headdress could be danced at an upcoming potlatch (internal rigging was also added, by the MOA conservator). The headdress was danced on March 12, 2016 by Darryll Dawson Jr. at a potlatch in Alert Bay given by Ryan Nicolson. Dawson is the great-grandson of Billy Wilson, who had danced the headdress c. 70 years previously. On May 28, 2022, the thunderbird headdress was danced at the wedding of Robert Scow and Sher Jacobs (at the Chief Joe Mathias Centre at Xwemelch’stn (Homulchesan), the Capilano First Nations reserve in West Vancouver). It was danced by Darren Galis Lagis (Dzawada’enuxw); Darren's mother was the late Janet Faith Lagis, daughter of Beverly Lagis, whose father was Billy Wilson.
Item History
- Made by Herbert Johnson (Maker) and Beau Dick (Technician) in British Columbia, Canada during 1935
- Collected in Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Sam Webber before July 1, 1960
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Sam Webber (Seller) on July 1, 1960
What
- Name
- Thunderbird Headdress
- Identification Number
- A4500
- Type of Item
- headdress
- Material
- hemlock wood, fibre, paint and cedar wood
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, painted and bored
- Overall
- height 24.1 cm, width 27.9 cm, depth 56.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Herbert Johnson (Maker) and Beau Dick (Technician)
- Previous Owner
- Sam Webber
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and Sam Webber (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia, Canada and Ukwanalis, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- during 1935
- Ownership Date
- before July 1, 1960
- Acquisition Date
- on July 1, 1960
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0027/0005