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Winter Dance, by Gordon Miller

This particular Kwakiutl dance mask, was used in winter ceremonies.  It represents Hokhokw, a man-eating bird.  There is a hinge on the long beak.  Ceremonial dancers would leap up and snap the beak closed with a loud clap.  This particular mask was made in the late 19th century.  Today, carvers create modern versions that are used in performances of the traditional dance.


Kwagiulth Dancer

This is an intricate bronze sculpture that depicts a Kwagiulth dancer.  The dancer is wearing a three way Raven transformation mask.  This is one of many traditional  masks that was created by the southern Kwakiutl.  The dancer hidden in the hug cedar mask, becomes Gwaxwiwe' or Raven transforming.  The face is hinged and by opening it up this face changes from Raven to Killer Whale, and finally into the Human Spirit.  In Kwakiutl tradition, respected families gained ownership of particular dances telling stories and legends.  For many generations, dancers have taken great pride in dazzling Potlatch guests with dramatic movements and stunning masks.


Mugamt by Jack Gibson

This figure represents a Kwagiulth Mugamt dancer and was sculpted by Jack Gibson after personally observing a traditional Potlatch -- a very rare experience -- and studying the form of the dancer and his remarkable bird mask.  These dramatic masks demonstrate a most unique and imaginative example of art produced by the Kwagiulth.  This particular mask depicts the traditional Kwagiulth multiple bird mask which was worn by high-ranking dancers, and represented the bird monster spirits in rare traditional dances performed in the dramatic fireside ceremonies of the southern Kwakiutl.

This again was a huge hand carved mask with a hinged beak and took great strength, skill and co-ordination by the dancer to operate the concealed strings in order that the loud cracking noise could be made as he leapt into the air in a spirit induced frenzy, swaying to the sounds of rattles and drums.



Galukw'ami Mask of the Crooked Beak
'Nakwaxda'xw band, Willie Seaweed, ca. 1940
Red cedar, red cedar bark, mahogany plywood, leather, cord

Potlatch traditions continue today, just as they have done for hundreds of years.  Some of the details have changed over time, however.  With the arrival of  Europeans to the Americas, Pacific Northwest cultures were greatly affected by outside influences.  There was a time when the Canadian government and Canadian religious leaders wanted the First Peoples to give up their traditional ways and become more like other Canadians.  There was a time starting in 1885, when Potlatches and their related activities were prohibited by Canadian law.

The prohibition was finally lifted in 1951, but prior to that time, there were still Potlatches that were held in secret in many places.  The sad part of the prohibition was that many of the old ways and the knowledge of tradition were lost during that time.  The people say of this period, "Luhlpadax'idan's 'nalax" (When our world became dark).

The Kwakwaka'wakw fought very hard, both during the time of the prohibition of the potlatch and since then, to preserve their ceremonial traditions and the potlatch.  And why do you think it was important for the Kwakwaka'wakw to keep their ceremonial traditions?

Look very carefully at the art objects and you will see they tell of the drama and impact of potlatching traditions.

Kwakwaka'wakw dancer Kevin Cranmer wears Mask of the Crooked Beak



Bukwas, or wild man of the woods, is a significant supernatural spirit being of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nation and casts a haunting figure in their great annual winter dance.  Bukwas is linked with the underworld of the dead and with ghosts -- especially the spirits of the drowned who hover near him.  This mysterious and illusive wild man lurks near the edge of the dark forest where he lives, offering food to lost humans, luring them to become spirits in his shadowy underworld.  This figure represents a Kwakwaka'wakw dancer wearing a carefully carved cedar mask, portraying Bukwas creeping to a sand bank on a sunny morning to dig for cockles, which is his favourite food.  He is very shy and looks about to see if he is being watched, shading his face from the sun with his hands.  Suddenly he leaps forward, settles on one knee searching for cockles, and devours them quickly, occasionally uttering a high pitched whoop or shriek from a concealed whistle.