Kwakiutl Collection

Qa hila-Koprino, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Qa hila-Koprino, c1914. Qa hila, a Koprino man, bust portrait, facing front, with bone in nose

Gathering abalones-Nakoaktok, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Gathering abalones-Nakoaktok, c1910. Kwakiutl woman gathering abalones, Washington

Tenaktak wedding guests, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Tenaktak wedding guests, c1914. Two Kwakiutl people in a canoe, one dressed in bear skin, including paws, and a mask

Kwakiutl Indians in boat, British Columbia, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Kwakiutl Indians in boat, British Columbia, c1910

A chief's party-Qagyuhl, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A chief's party-Qagyuhl, c1910

Tsawatenok girl, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Tsawatenok girl, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, c1914

Masked dancers-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Masked dancers-Qagyuhl, c1914. During the winter ceremony, Kwakiutl dancers wearing masks and costumes, crouch in foreground with others behind them

Tanaktak House, Harbeldown Island, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Tanaktak House, Harbeldown Island, c1914. Stairs leading up to wooden building, topped with Kwakiutl ceremonial art; in foreground one totem pole on the left

Kwakiutl house-frame, Memkumlis, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Kwakiutl house-frame, Memkumlis, c1910

Mask of the octopus hunter-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Mask of the octopus hunter-Qagyuhl, c1914. Ceremonial mask worn by a dancer portraying the hunter in Bella Bella mythology who killed the giant man-eating octopus

Dancing to restore an eclipsed moon, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Dancing to restore an eclipsed moon, c1914. Several Kwakiutl people dancing in a circle around a smoking fire, in an effort to cause a sky creature, which they believe swallowed the moon

A Hamatsa costume-Nakoaktok, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A Hamatsa costume-Nakoaktok, c1910. Kwakiutl man kneeling on one knee dressed in skins, hat and other garments

Wedding guests, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Wedding guests, c1914. Kwakiutl people in canoes, British Columbia

Hamatsa emerging from the woods-Koskimo, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Hamatsa emerging from the woods-Koskimo, c1914. Hamatsa shaman, three-quarter length portrait, seated on ground in front of tree, facing front

Kotsuis and Hohhug-Nakoaktok, wearing ceremonial dress, with long beaks, on their haunches, dancing(?), c1914

A hazy morning-Nakoaktok, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A hazy morning-Nakoaktok, c1910. Nakoaktok man standing on shore(?)

Nimkish village at Alert Bay, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Nimkish village at Alert Bay, c1914. Kwakiutl village, with totem poles, Alert Bay, British Columbia

Tsunukwalahl-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Tsunukwalahl-Qagyuhl, c1914. Person wearing Mask of Tsunukwalahl, a mythical being, used during the Winter Dance

The Hamatsa-Nakoaktok, 1910, c1910. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
The Hamatsa-Nakoaktok, 1910, c1910. Half-length portrait of Nakoaktok man, facing left, wearing cedar root ceremonial loop

Preparing cedar bark-Nakoaktok, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Preparing cedar bark-Nakoaktok, c1914

Preparing to eat the mummy, c1911. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Preparing to eat the mummy, c1911. Kwakiutl man(?) crouched, cradling mummy bound in fetal position

Kwakiutl Face-Mask, Pacific Northwest Coast Indian. Masks are worn by dancers during ceremonies

Canada, Ontario, Ottawa, Confederation Park, Kwakiutl Totem

Yakotlus-Quatsino, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Yakotlus-Quatsino, c1914. Yakotlus, Kwakiutl man, head-and-shoulders portrait, seated, facing right

Yakotlus-Quatsino (Profile), c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Yakotlus-Quatsino (Profile), c1914. Yakotlus, bust portrait, right profile

Tlahleelis-Koprino, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Tlahleelis-Koprino, c1914. Tlahleelis, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left

Sailing-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Sailing-Qagyuhl, c1914. Three Kwakiutl people in a canoe with a single sail

Sisiutl-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Sisiutl-Qagyuhl, c1914. Sisiutl, one of the main dancers in the Winter Dance ceremonies, wearing a double-headed serpent mask and shirt made of hemlock boughs

Nane-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Nane-Qagyuhl, c1914. Man dressed in a full-body bear costume. The bear had the duty of guarding the dance house

An incident of the Winter Dance-Nakoaktok, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
An incident of the Winter Dance-Nakoaktok, c1914. Kwakiutl people, some bowing before totem poles in background, others seated facing front as part of the nunhlim ceremony

Mamalelekala chief's mortuary house, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Mamalelekala chief's mortuary house, c1914

Carved posts at Alert Bay, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Carved posts at Alert Bay, c1914. Two totem poles in front of a wood frame house in the Nimkish village Yilis, on Cormorant Island

A Tsunukwa at Kwaustums, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A Tsunukwa at Kwaustums, c1914. A Dzoonokwa (or Tsunukwa) totem pole measuring over 20 feet tall, depicting a figure with hands outstretched to receive dowry from the wife's family

A Koskimo House-post, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A Koskimo House-post, c1914. Interior supporting columns of Koskimo home bearing carvings commemorating incidents in family history, often depicting the guardian spirit of the founder

Nuhlimahla-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Nuhlimahla-Qagyuhl, c1914. Person wearing ceremonial mask of the Nuhlimahla during the during the Winter Dance ceremony. These characters impersonated fools

Nuhlimkilaka-Koskimo, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Nuhlimkilaka-Koskimo, c1914. Kwakiutl person wearing an oversize mask and hands representing a forest spirit, Nuhlimkilaka, ("bringer of confusion")

A Tluwulahu mask-Tsawatenok, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A Tluwulahu mask-Tsawatenok, c1914. Kwakiutl man, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, wearing a mask depicting a loon on top of a man's head to facilitate the loon changing into the form

Paqusilahl-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Paqusilahl-Qagyuhl, c1914. 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

A chief's daughter-Nakoaktok, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
A chief's daughter-Nakoaktok, c1914. Nakoaktok woman, half-length portrait, facing right, seated, wearing a blanket, a hat with shell ornaments, large earrings, a nose ring, and several bracelets

Nakoaktok warrior, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Nakoaktok warrior, c1914. Kwakiutl man, full-length portrait, standing, facing front, holding pole

Naemahlpunkuma-Hahuamis, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Naemahlpunkuma-Hahuamis, c1914. Naemahlpunkuma, a Hahuamis man, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, wearing a nose ornament that covers his mouth

Pgwis-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Pgwis-Qagyuhl, c1914. Kwakiutl person wearing mask of mythical creature Pgwis (man of the sea)

Hamatsa-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Hamatsa-Qagyuhl, c1914. Kwakiutl man, full-length portrait, standing, facing front

Hami-Koskimo, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Hami-Koskimo, c1914. Koskimo person wearing full-body fur garment, oversized gloves and mask of Hami ("dangerous thing") during the numhlim ceremony

Hamasilahl-Qagyuhl, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Hamasilahl-Qagyuhl, c1914. Ceremonial dancer, full-length portrait, standing, wearing mask and a fur garments during the Winter Dance ceremony

Kwahwumhl-Koskimo, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Kwahwumhl-Koskimo, c1914. Dancer wearing raven mask with coat of cormorant skins during the numhlin ceremony

The fire drill-Koskimo, c1914. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
The fire drill-Koskimo, c1914. Koskimo man, full-length portrait, seated on ground, facing down, using a fire drill

Kominaka dancer, 1910, c1911. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Kominaka dancer, 1910, c1911. Kwakiutl Indian in costume with skulls

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The Kwakiutl, a Pacific Northwest Coast Indian tribe hailing from Canada's Ontario region, have a rich cultural heritage that is beautifully depicted in various forms of art and rituals. One such representation is the captivating Kwakiutl Face-Mask, which showcases intricate designs and symbols unique to their tribe. In Ottawa's Confederation Park stands an awe-inspiring Kwakiutl Totem, standing tall as a testament to their ancestral traditions. Rituals hold great significance for the Kwakiutl people, as seen in their mesmerizing dance performed with the intention of restoring an eclipsed moon. The Masked Dancers in Canoes exhibit by Edward Sheriff Curtis captures this enchanting spectacle from 1914. Another remarkable creation by Curtis is his portrayal of a canoe carrying a Kwakiutl Bridal Party, showcasing the tribe's customs surrounding marriage. The presence of grave markers within the Kwakiutl culture signifies reverence for ancestors and serves as a reminder of their deep connection to spirituality. A Native American grave marker belonging to the tribe exhibits exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail. A fascinating aspect life can be witnessed through their unique Diver Mask adorned with a beak - an emblematic representation found among North American Indians residing along the Pacific Northwest coast. Potlatch ceremonies are central to Kwakiutl society; they serve as occasions for feasting, gift-giving, and social bonding. An intriguing photograph from 1894 reveals members of the secret Hamatsa Society participating in one such potlatch ceremony. Edward S. Curtis once again captures moments frozen in time with his c1914 photograph featuring members of the Kwakiutl tribe navigating canoes on British Columbia's rivers – providing insight into their daily lives and reliance on waterways for transportation.