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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Nan - Grizzly Bear

Colour photograph of Nan - GRIZZLY BEAR shot against a black background

Grizzly Bear dancers are the most feared helpers of the Hamat´sa secret society. Their role is to keep order in the house and punish all people who break the protocols of the T´seka Sacred Red Cedar Bark Dance. The full costume includes a bearskin or a wool blanket and dancers also wear cedar bark head and neck rings. These claws were made from whale rib bones.

Owner of Mask: Hiłamas, “Captain John” Speck, Ławit´sis (Turnour Island)

Owner of Claws: T´łakwa, Sam Scow, ’Namgis (Alert Bay)

Nan