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Collections The U'mista Collections
Raven Hamshamtsas of Harry Mountain
Raven Hamshamtsas
The Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw state that before obtaining the Hamat̕sa from the Awik̕inuxw (Rivers Inlet) and the Hiłdzakw (Bella Bella), they only had the Hamshamt̕sas, who is initiated by Baxwbakwalanuksiwe’ The Man-Eater from the North End of the World. Today the Hamshamt̕sas is considered inferior to the Hamat̕sa. The ceremonial following the Hamshamt̕sas’ return is the same as Hamat̕sa, his regalia is the also the same except that the cedar bark is not twisted and simply wound around his head, neck, wrists, and ankles. He does not use the Mawił or Sacred Dance Room, and his cry is Wip! Wip! He does not dance in a squatting position but is always standing with forearms stretched forward, his elbows close to his sides, hands trembling. After his first dance, which consists of four rounds, he reappears wearing his mask. This could be a head mask similar to Gwaxgwakwalanuksiwe’ The Man-Eating Raven from the North End of the World, or a full-face mask. Almost all of these masks represent animals, the protectors of the dancers.
"Secret Societies of the Kwagu’ł Indians", by Franz Boas.
The Hamshamt̕sas mask in the collection is listed as belonging to: Harry Mountain UCC-80.01.20
