| v> | | | | Potlatch |
| Pacific North West Coast North American Masks | | | | In each of the tribal areas the potlatch feast had a |
| North America is home to a fantastic range of | | | | different status. Commonly they all were a forum for |
| American masks. Some of these are traditional dating | | | | the continuations of the local traditions and had direct |
| back centuries others are modern based upon the | | | | links to social order. Masks were used during the |
| traditions of Madi Gras and adaptations. If we extend | | | | potlatch to carry out religious and initiations rites, |
| the range a little into the Caribbean there is also the | | | | define status and to help increase the impact of the |
| Trinidad Carnival the most famous of the festivals in | | | | mythical element of the ceremony. A major element |
| this particular culture. | | | | of the Potlatch were the display by chiefs of their |
| The area to be covered here are; The Pacific North | | | | riches. Lavish gifts were given and precious resources |
| West Coast | | | | used to show the status of the potlatch giver. |
| The masks of the Pacific West Coast of North | | | | The masks and the tribes |
| America are a reflection of the lifestyle, mythology | | | | Throughout the region the most notable common |
| and religious beliefs of the indigenous people. Here | | | | denominator in the type of masks is the portrait |
| you will come across several distinct tribes, the most | | | | mask produced in differing degrees of conformity to |
| well known being; Haida, Kwakwaka'wakw ( or | | | | the human features. Portrait Masks From the |
| Kwakiult ), Tsimshian, Tlingit, Bella Bella, | | | | Northwest Coast of America by J.C.H. King is a |
| Nuu-chah-Nulth and Makah. The artistic style of these | | | | detailed study of these and is well worth reading. |
| peoples has a commonality in the use of curved | | | | Tlingit |
| symbolry which occurs within pictures of people and | | | | The Coastal Tinglit live in Alaska rather than Canada |
| creatures, both real and mythological and surface | | | | but the influence spreads to the Tahtlan tribes in the |
| decoration. Here there are rich formalised traditions | | | | south. Shaman masks represent the finest work |
| developed over many centuries to expressing the | | | | from this area. Potlatches celebrating the memory of |
| individuality of the area. | | | | dead ancestors, were danced by men and women |
| Art work and in particular carved wooden mask were | | | | wearing human face masks bearing the crests of |
| collected from this area from the time of the first | | | | clans and relatives. Women's masks also had labrets |
| incursions of western sailors. Sadly the diseases | | | | which according to size were the mark of rank. The |
| brought by these visitors had a devesting effect | | | | numerous masks of the shaman represented the |
| almost wiping out some of the villages. Later | | | | various levels of the spirit world, sky spirits for the |
| devastation to the cultures were wrought by the | | | | upper world, or dead warriors, the sea or water |
| church and local officialdom. Children were taken | | | | spirits and the land spirits. On the other hand the |
| away from their parents and sent to boarding | | | | chief wore masks that portrayed their ancestors. |
| schools to take them away from the tribal ways. Art | | | | Tlingit masks, as all masks of this area and African |
| work and ceremonial regalia were burned driving | | | | ones, combined the aim of representing spirits and |
| traditional practices underground. The survival of the | | | | ancestors in forms that were recognisable to all tribal |
| art and traditions of this area are now recognised as | | | | members. |
| important. In particular traditional art work is one | | | | Haida |
| manner in which the people of this area can | | | | The Haida lived on the island now known as Queen |
| communicate the value of their interpretation of the | | | | Charlotte Island. Of the old masks that have been |
| world to the rest of us. | | | | collected some are known to have been made for |
| I had the opportunity to visit this area during 2003. | | | | sale to the sailors who visited the islands. The human |
| The whole coastal area is extremely verdant. Tall | | | | face masks were worn by the chiefs and others of |
| temperate rain forest trees grow to the edge of the | | | | rank during potlatches. Over fifty different crests |
| sea. Wild life abounds in the sea and forest. Salmon | | | | have been noted and these decorated the masks of |
| and whales are common in the sea and deer and | | | | the chiefs. Crests represented animals, natural |
| other game animals fill the forests. The area is | | | | phenomena and the mythological past. The potlatches |
| abundant in all those things that makes a hunting | | | | were given by the Village or house chiefs and were |
| collecting way of life the natural choice for the | | | | very well developed forms of feast involving the |
| inhabitants. The mountainous terrain also forces | | | | provider in a huge outlay of goods and food. |
| settlements to be near the sea or in valleys. | | | | The potlatch may have been given for several |
| Visiting this area during August we soon became | | | | reasons including, commemorating an ancestor, |
| aware of the salmon swimming up river to spawn. | | | | tattooing a crest or cutting a lip for a labret. Dances |
| These were not large rivers but shallow tidal outlets | | | | similar to those performed by the Kwakiutl where a |
| only a few centimetres deep. Each square metre of | | | | character possessed by a cannibal spirit ran amongst |
| water could be populated by as may as 8 fully grown | | | | the guests biting them for the chief to rip up |
| fish. With my untrained eye I noticed at least 5 | | | | blankets to bandage the injuries in a show of |
| species of salmon. To fish in these waters would be | | | | apparent wealth. |
| of no difficulty even for the amateur. As we moved | | | | Tshimshian |
| further upstream the final demise of these abundant | | | | Tsimshian sculptures were mainly crests, the masks |
| creatures became noticeable as the smell of rotting | | | | were of human form and often used to dramatise |
| fish pervaded the air. | | | | initiations. The workmanship is highly regarded for its |
| Despite hearing tales of over fishing, such local | | | | quality. In parallel with the neighbouring Kwakiutl some |
| abundance is hard to visualise unless you have | | | | of the initiation ceremonies were very dramatic. The |
| experienced it. In particular having lived in Britain most | | | | craftsmen were given the tasks of making |
| of my life I have always appreciated wild salmon as | | | | transformation masks and of engineering some |
| an expensive luxury. Here it is so common it rots | | | | elaborate deceptions. |
| away after spawning. | | | | Novices at initiation ceremonies would be taken |
| As well as appreciating the natural beauty of the | | | | through a process where they would disappear |
| area the beauty of local craftsmanship in carving is | | | | through the roof having been captured by a spirit, |
| apparent in the galleries and craft shops of the area. | | | | ?spirited away?, and then to reappear with a magical |
| In particular I enjoyed the galleries in Victoria, | | | | device presented by the spirit. Even for a modern |
| Vancouver Island. Within this very compact city there | | | | theatre technician this would be a considerable task. |
| are many galleries displaying a whole range of local | | | | Mask-making virtually disappeared by 1940 after |
| art. For me the delight was the exquisite mask and | | | | declining from about 1910. A revival was introduced |
| carvings. Some of them truly of museum quality. I | | | | with a training programme begun in 1970. |
| If you are interested in the art of this area then the | | | | Nootkan |
| galleries of Victoria are a worthwhile starting point. | | | | The best known Nootkan ritual was the "tlonquana" |
| Other galleries can be accessed on cruises to Alaska. | | | | which was a dramatic depiction of the capture of |
| An overview of the mask of the area | | | | initiates by wolves. The masks used depicted wolves, |
| The masks of North America can be divided into four | | | | serpents and wild men. When the initiate had been |
| obvious groups. The links between some of the | | | | seized by the wolf he would be given ancestral |
| rituals behind the masks are apparent and there are | | | | powers and rights. Through this means the initiate |
| also strong thematic links to the African masks | | | | would be given insight into the adult life and myths of |
| through the remembrance of and devotion to | | | | their village and people. The dancing and ceremonies |
| ancestors. Coming of age and initiation ceremonies | | | | lasted for days. Another occasion on which the |
| also play a part. | | | | masks were worn was the announcement of a |
| Only the northern peoples will be considered here. | | | | potlatch. Because the ceremonies were so detailed |
| Inuit | | | | they would be arranged up to two years in advance |
| Some experts believe that the masquerade tradition | | | | in order to assure there were no clashes. |
| only began with the influence of the European | | | | During a minor feast a female and male masked |
| settlers. This is contradicted by the fact that some | | | | figure would make a dramatic entrance to announce |
| ivory burial masks have been excavated from 2000 | | | | the coming event. The event would be compared to |
| years ago. The practice of dancing with masks does | | | | a feast given in the past and the chief would make a |
| seem to be a much later development. Yet in | | | | commitment to providing an even more elaborate |
| contradiction shamanism was a notable part of the | | | | affair. |
| cultures in this and surrounding this area. Also the land | | | | Kwakiutl |
| bridge traversed by the earliest people to spread | | | | The Kwakiutl are famed for their transformation |
| from Europe in this area forced people to pass this | | | | masks. These massive masks, up to eight feet long, |
| way. I find it difficult to accept that masked | | | | are based around an animal form and open up during |
| shamanistic ceremonies were not a part of the | | | | the ceremony to reveal an inner human character. |
| culture. | | | | This method links the human, animal and spiritual |
| Dance masks were generally made for the shaman | | | | aspects of life. |
| who linked the community to the spirit world. Most | | | | The winter period, called Tsetseka, meaning good |
| important ceremonies took place in the winter. | | | | humour, was used by the Kwakiutl as time for |
| Typically, masks represented the spirit of the animals | | | | celebrating. They believed that the spirits who had |
| and natural phenomena as visualised by the shaman. | | | | been at large in the world returned to the village to |
| Essentially two dimensional, as opposed to the three | | | | capture certain members of the population. The |
| dimensional forms of the West coast traditions, the | | | | dances were often connected with the initiation of |
| masks were painted in black, white, red and blue. | | | | novices. Possessed by wild spirits the novices would |
| Constructed from an outer wheel of willow bands, | | | | disappear into the woods to be given the ancestral |
| supporting various emblems, surrounding a flat central | | | | rites and then reappear as fully fledged members of |
| area representing the face the masks synthesise the | | | | the society. The spirit which possessed them was |
| human and animal elements. | | | | Bakbakwalanooksiwae (Cannibal at the north end of |
| Some other areas produced less elaborate designs. | | | | the World ) who inspired them to eat human flesh. |
| During the dance the swaying chorus of women | | | | There is no record of cannibalism having taken place, |
| would wear small finger masks. < | | | | only of ritual enactment. |
| Pacific North West Coast Masks of this area must be | | | | This period of dancing reached its climax as the |
| considered in the light of how the local people were | | | | initiates disappeared into the woods with the |
| forced by the settlers to abandon their own ways. | | | | Hamasta dancers appearing at the potlatch in their |
| Laws were passed to outlaw the Potlatch and force | | | | fantastic masks. These portrayed a great bird |
| native children into a Christian way of life and a | | | | monster who ate flesh and the Thunderbird which |
| European style education. A large seizure of Kwakiutl | | | | beat its wings and flashed its eyes. The dancers |
| ritual artefacts was made in 1921 by the police in | | | | were supported by the Noohlmahl, the fool, who, |
| Alert Bay. Some of the traditions managed to flourish | | | | with a large running nose, provided flesh for the |
| underground, notable the Kwakiutl, where there are | | | | Hamasta. In addition he also kept the watchers in |
| direct links between contemporary makers and the | | | | order. |
| older traditions. Modern mask makers have developed | | | | A second ritual featured the Warrior at the end of |
| the styles of their forbears as the need to | | | | the World, Winalagilis, who was supported by a series |
| re-establish the old traditions has emerged. | | | | of other dancers. Some of the effects were of a |
| The People of this area used the natural wealth of | | | | spectacular nature with one female helper, Toogwid, |
| the land and sea as their means of subsistence. The | | | | being killed by a wedge driven through her head. Real |
| abundance of natural food allowed it to be stored for | | | | animal blood was released from bladders and seal |
| the winter months and gave the opportunity for the | | | | eyes were made to fall from the mask to increase |
| practice of the elaborate ceremonies during these | | | | the impact of the event. At the end of the |
| colder months. | | | | performance she was restored. Other rituals also |
| Devastation by Disease | | | | involved elaborate killings and rebirths. The |
| A large number of native people lost their lives due | | | | photographs of Edward Sheriff Curtis record some of |
| to the introduction of foreign diseases. In particular | | | | the costumes and masks of this area go to Edward |
| smallpox decimated the population of many areas. | | | | Curtis Flurry and Co. to find out more and see some |
| The Haida in particular were reduced from about | | | | of the pictures. |
| 8000 before the arrival of Europeans to 800 by 1880. | | | | Also try the Library of Congress. |