Title: NORTHWEST COAST
Headings: 
NORTHWEST COAST
Northwest Coast Art
Cooking and Potlatches
Clothing of the Pacific Northwest Coast Indians
Northwest Coast Tribes / Pacific Coast Tribes
Pacific Northwest and Plateau Indian Wars
Subcategories
Article Index:

Content: Ceremonial Masks: The people of the Northwest Coast, particularly those in the Northern and Central portions of this culture area, are well known for their ceremonial masks. Masks are made from wood, primarily cedar and occasionally maple, which is then painted with three primary colors: black or blue, red, and white. These masks are both art objects and objects with spiritual significance. Masks represent the animals and creatures of the four dimensions of the cosmos: the Sky World, the Mortal World, the Undersea World, and the Spirit World. One of the common themes in the mythology of the Northwest Coast is one in which ancestors come down from the sky and then remove their animal or bird costumes. When used in ceremonies, the masks take on the life and spirit of the spirits which they represent. Traditionally, masks were guarded and hidden away, and not shown until they appeared in the ceremonial dance.