Gwa'wina
Raven
Umeł is the name of Raven who was the Chief of the Myth People. He did great things for his people such as giving them fire to use and releasing the Sun after it had been locked up by a thieving chief. He also taught the ways of the T´seka to the people which is why you may see the Raven perform the last dance in T´seka.
Owner
Arthur Bondsound, Kwikwasut´inuxw (Gilford Island)
Catalogue Information
Provenance
Owned by Arthur Bondsound until its forced surrender to Indian Agent William Halliday on March 25, 1922. Halliday later displayed and photographed the seized pieces at the Parish Hall in Alert Bay. After doing an inventory, he crated the items in June, and at the end of September he shipped them to Edward Sapir at the National Museum of Man (now the Canadian Museum of History). They remained the property of the NMM until their repatriation by the U’mista and Nuyumbalees Cultural Societies in 1979.
Materials
Wood, Cedar; Wood, Alder; Paint; Fibre, Cotton; Fibre, Wool; Metal, Iron
Dimensions
22.5 cm x 51.0 cm
Accession Number
80.01.144
Physical Description
Bird mask carved in two parts. The upper section is alder and the lower jaw is made from red cedar. The lower jaw is hinged at the back with knotted ropes. Two long slots are carved in the lower jaw as peep-holes for the wearer. A harness composed of three split twigs is tied and nailed to the top of the mask. A long strip of knotted red blanket material is tied to the back of the harness. An attachment of feathers (and skin) was once nailed to the upper part of the head. The carving is painted in black, red, green and white.