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Metadata
Title |
Gaagii Raven Mask |
Object Name |
Mask |
Catalog Number |
2015.1.2 |
Creator |
Beau Dick |
Date |
2015 |
Scope & Content |
Item is a black raven mask. Item was named in honour of Bill Reid, who was Raven Haida. The mask was created after the Haida Repatriation visit to England. The team discovered that the museum knew very little about Haida mask culture and the cultural significance of Raven to the Haida people. In response, this mask was created as an educational tool. It is meant to be worn and is frequently loaned out to be worn at ceremonies. Beau Dick once wore it to a potlatch. The following is an excerpt from the article "What Does Raven Mean to the Haida?" by Kwiaahwah Jones which she wrote to accompany this mask. "Raven is a tricky fellow found in many forms... His self serving misguided intentions change things in our world for the better, making things forever different... Raven often makes more mistakes than not in his stories... Raven with all his mistakes tells us he is not a god, or an animal of worship, but a supernatural figure with very human frailties... His energy is reincarnated into our social structure defining one half of Haida society. When you are Hiada, you are either Raven or Eagle... This tells us our role in society." |
Level of description |
Item |
Collection |
Beau Dick Collection |
Parent Catalog Number |
2015.1 |
Ownership |
Bill Reid Foundation |
People |
Dick, Beau |
Subjects |
Ravens Masks |