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Fantastic Photographs Of Native Americans In Ceremonial Masks (1905-1915)

Edward Curtis’ epic portraits of Native Americans are a joy. And so too are his pictures of North America’s indigenous peoples dressed in ceremonial masks.

 

Title Haschogan (House God) - The Yebichai Hunchback Summary Photograph shows a Navajo man, half-length, seated, facing front, wearing a ceremonial mask with feathers and with fir or spruce branches forming a wreath around the shoulders. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published [1904]

Title: Haschogan (House God) – The Yebichai Hunchback. Summary:
Photograph shows a Navajo man, half-length, seated, facing front, wearing a ceremonial mask with feathers and with fir or spruce branches forming a wreath around the shoulders. By Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer – 1904

Curtis began his quest to record what he feared was a vanishing world in 1901. He said:

The passing of every old man or woman means the passing of some tradition, some knowledge of sacred rites possessed by no other… consequently the information that is to be gathered, for the benefit of future generations, respecting the mode of life of one of the great races of mankind, must be collected at once or the opportunity will be lost for all time.

We’d argue that stories last; passed on orally, they take lives of their own, growing and changing in harmony with the people who tell them and listen. The visual portrait is not the be all and end all of a culture. The North Americans Indians were not stuck in an ancient style that would never change. Their culture has roots, branches, dead wood and new shoots. It needed then, as it does now, to breathe in the light or else it dies.

The pictures are wonderful – but as snapshots in time they are only a small and valuable part from the story of a great race.

Title Tsunukwalahl--Qagyuhl Summary Person wearing Mask of Tsunukwalahl, a mythical being, used during the Winter Dance. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title: Tsunukwalahl–Qagyuhl
Summary: Person wearing Mask of Tsunukwalahl, a mythical being, used during the Winter Dance.
By Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952 – 1914 November 13.

Title Hamasilahl--Qagyuhl Summary Ceremonial dancer, full-length portrait, standing, wearing mask and a fur garments during the Winter Dance ceremony. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title: Hamasilahl–Qagyuhl. Summary: Ceremonial dancer – 1914 November 13.

Title Nuhlimkilaka--Koskimo Summary Kwakiutl person wearing an oversize mask and hands representing a forest spirit, Nuhlimkilaka, ("bringer of confusion"). Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title: Nuhlimkilaka–Koskimo
Summary: Kwakiutl person wearing an oversize mask and hands representing a forest spirit, Nuhlimkilaka, (“bringer of confusion”). By: Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952 – 1914 November 13.

Title Paqusilahl--Qagyuhl Summary Dancer representing Paqusilahl ("man of the ground embodiment"), wearing a mask and shirt covered with hemlock boughs, representing paqus, a wild man of the woods. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title: Paqusilahl–Qagyuhl. Summary: Dancer representing Paqusilahl (“man of the ground embodiment”), wearing a mask and shirt covered with hemlock boughs, representing paqus, a wild man of the woods.
Contributor Names: Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952 – 1914 November 13.

Title Gaaskidi [i.e. Ganaskidi]--Navaho Summary Photo shows a Navajo man wearing mask of Ganaskidi, god of harvests, plenty, and of mists. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1905 January.

Title: Gaaskidi [i.e. Ganaskidi]–Navaho. Summary:
Photo shows a Navajo man wearing mask of Ganaskidi, god of harvests, plenty, and of mists – January 2005

Title Nuhlimahla--Qagyuhl Summary Person wearing ceremonial mask of the Nuhlimahla during the during the Winter Dance ceremony. These characters impersonated fools and were noted for their devotion to filth and disorder. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title: Nuhlimahla–Qagyuhl. Summary: Person wearing ceremonial mask of the Nuhlimahla during the during the Winter Dance ceremony. These characters impersonated fools and were noted for their devotion to filth and disorder. By Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952 – 1914, November 13.

Title Kwahwumhl--Koskimo Summary Dancer wearing raven mask with coat of cormorant skins during the numhlin ceremony. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title
Kwahwumhl–Koskimo
Summary
Dancer wearing raven mask with coat of cormorant skins during the numhlin ceremony.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
c1914 November 13.

Title [Zahadolzha--Navaho] Summary Indian, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, wearing leather mask with basket cap, fur ruff, nude torso painted with white lines. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published 1904, c1905.

Title
[Zahadolzha–Navaho]
Summary
Indian, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, wearing leather mask with basket cap, fur ruff, nude torso painted with white lines.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
1904, c1905.

Title Masked dancer--Cowichan Summary Dancer wearing oversize mask, three rings of feathers in front of clothing, holding a rattle. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1913 June 16.

Title
Masked dancer–Cowichan
Summary
Dancer wearing oversize mask, three rings of feathers in front of clothing, holding a rattle.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
c1913 June 16.

Title [Nayenezgani--Navaho] Summary Indian, half-length portrait, facing front, wearing dark mask, fur ruff, paint on torso. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published 1904, c1905.

Title
[Nayenezgani–Navaho]
Summary
Indian, half-length portrait, facing front, wearing dark mask, fur ruff, paint on torso.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
1904, c1905.

Title Hami--Koskimo Summary Koskimo person wearing full-body fur garment, oversized gloves and mask of Hami ("dangerous thing") during the numhlim ceremony. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title
Hami–Koskimo
Summary
Koskimo person wearing full-body fur garment, oversized gloves and mask of Hami (“dangerous thing”) during the numhlim ceremony.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
c1914 November 13.

Title Group of Winter Dancers--Qagyuhl Summary Ceremonial dancers, in a circle during the Winter Dance ceremony, wearing masks and garments of fur, feathers, and other materials. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title
Group of Winter Dancers–Qagyuhl
Summary
Ceremonial dancers, in a circle during the Winter Dance ceremony, wearing masks and garments of fur, feathers, and other materials.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
c1914 November 13.

Title Sisiutl--Qagyuhl Summary Sisiutl, one of the main dancers in the Winter Dance ceremonies, wearing a double-headed serpent mask and shirt made of hemlock boughs. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title
Sisiutl–Qagyuhl
Summary
Sisiutl, one of the main dancers in the Winter Dance ceremonies, wearing a double-headed serpent mask and shirt made of hemlock boughs.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
c1914 November 13.

Title A Tluwulahu costume--Qagyuhl Summary Woman wearing a fringed Chilkat blanket, a hamatsa neckring and mask representing deceased relative who had been a shaman. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title
A Tluwulahu costume–Qagyuhl
Summary
Woman wearing a fringed Chilkat blanket, a hamatsa neckring and mask representing deceased relative who had been a shaman.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
c1914 November 13.

Title Masked dancers--Qagyuhl Summary During the winter ceremony, Kwakiutl dancers wearing masks and costumes, crouch in foreground with others behind them. The chief on the far left holds a speaker's staff. Three totem poles in background. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title
Masked dancers–Qagyuhl
Summary
During the winter ceremony, Kwakiutl dancers wearing masks and costumes, crouch in foreground with others behind them. The chief on the far left holds a speaker’s staff. Three totem poles in background.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
c1914 November 13.

Title Tonenili--Navaho Summary Navajo man bedecked in hemlock boughs and mask of a clown associated with the mischievous rain god Tonenili, "Water Sprinkler". Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1905 January 6.

Title
Tonenili–Navaho
Summary
Navajo man bedecked in hemlock boughs and mask of a clown associated with the mischievous rain god Tonenili, “Water Sprinkler”.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
c1905 January 6.

Title [Nayenezgani--Navaho] Summary Indian, full-length portrait, standing, facing front, wearing dark leather mask, fur ruff, cloth girdle, silver concho belt and necklaces. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published 1904, c1905.

Title
[Nayenezgani–Navaho]
Summary
Indian, full-length portrait, standing, facing front, wearing dark leather mask, fur ruff, cloth girdle, silver concho belt and necklaces.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
1904, c1905.

Title Haschogan (House God) - The Yebichai Hunchback Summary Photograph shows a Navajo man, half-length, seated, facing front, wearing a ceremonial mask with feathers and with fir or spruce branches forming a wreath around the shoulders. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published [1904]

Title
Haschogan (House God) – The Yebichai Hunchback
Summary
Photograph shows a Navajo man, half-length, seated, facing front, wearing a ceremonial mask with feathers and with fir or spruce branches forming a wreath around the shoulders.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
[1904]

Title [Atlumhl-- Koskimo] Summary North American Indian man, in costume with ceremonial mask, on hands and knees. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914.

Title
[Atlumhl– Koskimo]
Summary
North American Indian man, in costume with ceremonial mask, on hands and knees.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
c1914.

Title Mask of the octopus hunter--Qagyuhl Summary Ceremonial mask worn by a dancer portraying the hunter in Bella Bella mythology who killed the giant man-eating octopus. The dance was performed during Tluwulahu, a four day ceremony prior to the Winter Dance. Contributor Names Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer Created / Published c1914 November 13.

Title
Mask of the octopus hunter–Qagyuhl
Summary
Ceremonial mask worn by a dancer portraying the hunter in Bella Bella mythology who killed the giant man-eating octopus. The dance was performed during Tluwulahu, a four day ceremony prior to the Winter Dance.
Contributor Names
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
Created / Published
c1914 November 13.

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