U'mista Cultural Society

The Potlatch Gallery

Image of a darkened corner in the Potlatch Gallery with a cedar chest visible in the foreground. Corner of the Potlatch Gallery showing a large cedar post and a group of wolf masks. Corner of the Potlatch Gallery showing a group of masks and headdresses from the potlatch collection View from the west end of the Potlatch Gallery showing the north side and entrance wall.

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Atłak´ima - Forest Spirits

Colour photograph shows a group of four forest spirit masks shot against black background

The dance of the Forest Spirits can include up to 40 masked dancers. This dance tells the story of a boy who runs away from his abusive father to kill himself. In the forest, he meets a supernatural mouse who takes him to another realm where he meets the Forest Spirits. He returns to his village and shares the stories and dances of the Forest Spirits with his people.

Owner: T´sandigan ’Nage’, Harry Mountain, Mamalilikala (Village Island)

Atłak´ima

Forest spirit mask, humanoid features, mostly white face with red lips and prominent black eyebrows, cloth and cedar drape on back
Forest spirit mask, mostly white face, deeply carved features, black paint eyebrows and around eyes, cloth and leather strips attached to back
A small forest spirit mask, mostly white face, pursed red lips, prominent black eyebrows, long cedar trim draping from top and back
A large forest spirit mask, mostly white, red lips, large open mouth, some cedar trim on back and sides. Eyes are painted. Mask has no eyeholes.
Forest spirit mask, feminine appearance, red lips and trim surrounding nostrils, rosy cheeks and long cedar bark trim
Atłak´ima or imitator mask, mostly white washed with bulging hinged eyes, red paint lips and around nostrils, thick black eyebrows and cedar bark trim
A small and mostly white-washed masked, ghostly appearance, thin pursed lips, pale while markings for eyes, absent of eyeholes and nostrils, lacks trim