Raven Headdress Item Number: 3599/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Raven headdress, or mask, with long cedar bark fringe. Emerging from the top of the head is a short cedar bark fringe, as well as black feathers and two attached wooden wing panels. Two additional upright wooden wing panels are attached at the back, and one horizontal panel. The panels are carved in relief and painted black, brown and dark red on a black background. The beak is black, and mouth is red. The lower part of the beak is hinged with strips of hide(?), nailed in place, and a thin grey plaited rope is attached to the inside of the lower beak, and hangs down with the long fringe. The eyes are black, outlined in red and black on a white ovoid background; the brow is black. The inside of the headdress is hollow and lined with yellow foam on the upper portion. Two thick plaited ropes are nailed to the top, at the back, to hold the mask on the wearer. Attached along the top ridge is a twisted and dyed cedar rope.
The raven mask/headdress was carved by Chief James (Jimmy) Dick, Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw, of Kingcome Inlet. Jimmy Dick gave the mask to Evelyn Walkus Windsor (c. 1965-70) because it represents her rights to the Altakim (animal kingdom) dances. Evelyn was Ted Walkus’ aunt. The mask was later retired from use, so Ted Walkus decided to donate it to MOA in 2022.