Indian Masks and What They Signify

By CHARLES bitnn-Lowr bok. SiG. BR Aci:

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HE object which forms the frontispiece of this issue of the Museum and Art
Notes is an Indian ceremonial mask of rather unusual character.

It was carved by the Tsimshian Indians, the tribe whose immemorial settle-
ments are on and about the Naas and Skeena rivers, and was formerly used by them

in their ceremonial dances and festivals.
It came into the possession of the Museum by a gift from the late Captain Mellon.

There are several of these ceremonial masks in the Museum, but none quite so
interesting in their symbolism as this Tsimshian specimen, which illustrates very
clearly the totemistic concepts of this people. Unfortunately, we have no detailed
knowledge of its history or what particular event or incident in the life of its original
owner it was supposed to commemorate or symbolize. Being clearly a ceremonial,
totemistic mask, it undoubtedly possessed a significance of this kind in the eyes of
its Indian owner.

There is no doubt of its totemic character or that the Tsimshian to whom it
originally belonged was a member of the Eagle Clan. The outer figure of the mask, as
the photoprint makes clear, represents an eagle. This was the totemic symbol of one
of the four clans into which the Tsimshian tribe was formerly divided. The other
three were the Raven, the Wolf and the Bear. These four clans comprised the whole
tribe, every member of which belong to one or other of these four divisions.

The most interesting feature about these clan divisions is their totemic and
exogamic character. Each was supposed to be under the protection of a tutelary
spirit, which was looked upon as the group totem, the emblem or symbol of which
was the common property and distinguishing crest of every member of that group.
Thus a member of the eagle clan was entitled to use the eagle symbol in his carvings
and personal adornments. If, for example, he erected a totem pole, the uppermost
figure on the pole would always be that of an eagle, thus marking him as a member of
the Eagle clan.

In its exogamic character is played much the same role as our Table of kindred
and affinity does among ourselves. It prohibited marriage within the group. No
member of a clan could inter-marry with any other member of that clan. They must
seek mates without the clan, which is what the term “exogamy” signifies.

The origin of this custom is not certainly known, though there is not wanting
evidence to show that its primary object was to prevent consanguineous unions. As
among our Indians incestuous relations were held in great abhorrence, it may very well
have arisen in this way.