British Columbia
Northwest Coast / Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw, (also called Kwakiutl)

Wood, paint
ca. 1960s
Size (closed): Height: 15.625 in; Length: 15 in; Width: 18.3 in
Size (open): Height: 26 in; Length: 12.5 in; Width: 36.25 in
Other – Regalia

A finely hand-carved and painted wooden Northwest Coast, Kwakiutl/Kwakwaka’wakw transformation mask, depicting an eagle when closed, and revealing stylized human, bear, and eagle visages when open. Such masks manifest the transformation of an animal changing into a mythical being, an ancestor, and/or another animal. They are worn by dancers who pull strings to open and move the mask – in effect, animating it – during ceremonies.  When the cords of this mask are pulled, the eagle’s head opens at the center to reveal the transformed visages. All is skillfully carved and painted in a traditional palette of red, black, blue, yellow, and white.

The eagle was known as the “master of the skies” and the mighty raptor was a figure of great significance in Northwestern cosmology. The eagle sent messages and prayers to the Creator, and if an eagle was seen during a prayer session, it was taken as a sign that a prayer had been accepted. Eagle feathers remain sacred symbols of prayer.

When open, the central mask is that of a stylized human visage with perforated eyes through which the wearer may see. In addition, the side panels each present a profile visage of the eagle baring teeth, while the upper triangular panel presents the face of a bear, and the lower triangular panel complements it with blue-on-red leaf- or feather-like motifs.

In the Native American context, the bear is oftentimes embraced as a medicine bear with magical healing powers who also symbolizes courage, strength, health, and family. Interestingly, various Native American legends from tribes of the Pacific Northwest tell of a bear abducting a chief’s daughter. According to the story, this woman of high status had been out in the woods picking berries, when she stepped on some bear dung and cursed aloud, insulting the bear’s cleanliness. Two nearby bears who heard her were upset and decided to teach her a lesson. One bear magically transformed himself into a dashing young man who approached this woman and convinced her to accompany him to his mountain house. Upon falling in love with him, she too became partially bear-like. The two married and had twin cubs – born resembling bears but could metamorphose themselves into a human form just like their father. When the woman’s brothers found her, they retaliated by killing her husband. They all then returned to the village, only the two bear sons felt out of place and eventually returned to the forest. All Bear Clan members are said to descend from this woman and her two sons. Hence, it is believed that there is a bear within every one of us, and that we must accept and embrace this in our lives.