maxwat'lalqa (Mask)

Possibly a child's mask. Skaaxka, "...a little bird that hangs around the river-bank. and is a greenish-grey color dots: it is also called by the name 'maxwat alakaa.' This mask was used in between serious dances to make people feel good" (Agnes Edgar, Deadman's Creek Reserve, 1972).

Purchased from Davenport Clayton in 1959. Collected by his parents while operating a store in Bella Coola between 1890 and 1910.

Small carved wooden mask of bird-like figure with beak and bulbous forehead. Mask is painted white with black spots, and blue features. A round wooden section with hole sits on top, and there are three holes down each side, likely to help secure mask to the face.