xixawixwsa'makw (Robe)

About this object

History of use

During the period from November to March, the social organization of the Kwakwaka'wakw people was based on membership in the dancing societies rather than on clan affiliations. The most important and highest ranking dance of the winter was the Hamats!a society's. To become a fully fledged Hamats!a, an individual had to complete 4 years of dancing in each of 3 lower ranking dance societies. Each stage involved feasting, gifts, and ceremonial costs, requiring considerable wealth to complete. The Hamatsa performance is based in legends of bird-monsters who inhabited the sky- world, and were eaters of human flesh. The horror they inspired was heightened by the drama of the performance. The performance consisted of the seizure of the novice by the Hamatsa initiating spirit (bakbakwalanookSiwae), the novice's disappearance into the forest, his 4- day frenzy, and his ritual taming to the point where he became human again, and a fully-fledged member of the dancing society. On the final night there was feasting, recounting of the legend, and payment or gifts to all those who had taken part in the ceremonies.

Cultural context

ceremonial

Iconographic meaning

The skulls indicated the number of slaves or enemies killed to feed the Hamats!a.

Physical description

Large dark blue woolen robe with a black band on either side and a fringe made of bundles of red-dyed and gold cedar bark sewn onto three edges at intervals. A skeleton-like figure is sewn on to one side of the robe at the centre. The figure is made of a carved wooden skull- face painted white, with a cedar bark headdress. Attached to the skull are rope-like arms and legs, made of bundled cotton-twine seine net bunched up and wrapped in cedar bark. At the end of the arms and legs are carved wooden hands and feet painted white.