Length: 37.000 cm
AOA NWC 55
From: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Date: 18th century AD
On Vancouver Island Native leaders have crests, animals which represent their families. Each family would tell legends about their ancestors meeting the animal shown in the crest. In the winter families would travel round to different villages and go to feasts. There they would dance with masks to explain the stories of their ancestors.
Gulls were particularly important birds. When gulls started flying in circles and screeching, it meant that one of their favourite spring foods, herring, were returning. A dancer in a gull mask would explain why gulls and herring were important. This mask has a rattle of limpet shells inside, which would make a sound when the wearer danced.