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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

Carved wooden crooked beak headdress, or mask. The beak has large red circular shaped nostrils with a red band outlining it. Running from the brow is a large central black frill that protrudes outward and curves downwards to the centre of the beak; decorated with white detailing, black and white cutout u-forms and s-shape. The mouth is red, flat and protruding. The underside of the beak is black. The bottom parts of the beak are hinged with rectangular pieces of leather. The eyes are black, outlined in white and red on a white ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. The inside of the mask is hollow with the exception of pieces of fibre twine that articulates the beak. The top has small bundles of small stripes of cedar bark. Hanging from the back are long strips of bark. The mask is painted black, white and red with Northwest Coast stylized forms.

History Of Use

Worn by female attendant, hiligaxste', in taming Hamats!a dancer.

Cultural Context

ceremonial

Iconographic Meaning

Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Gugwze'or Galugwadzawe, one of the servants of Cannibal at the North End of the World, Baxbakwalanuksiwe'.

Item History

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