hilhiwe' (Mask)

Worn by female attendant: hiligaxste', during the taming of the Hamats!a dancer.

Represents Crooked Beak of Heaven, Galugwadzawe', one servant of Baxbakwalanuksiwe', cannibal at the north end of the world.

Carved wooden, crooked beak headdress, or mask. The beak has red ovoid shaped nostrils with a central frill that curves inward to the centre of the beak. The mouth is red, flat and protruding; bottom part of jaw is nailed shut. The face is black with white outline and detailing. The eyes are white outlined in black and red on a white, ovoid shaped ground; brow is black. The inside of the mask is hollow; twisted twine is tied to either side of the bottom, back edge of the mask. Attached to the top and side edges are short, bundles cedar stripes; longer pieces of cedar hang down the back. The mask is painted black, white and red with Northwest Coast stylized forms.