MASK
Moon Mask – The Importance of Fishing
STATUS : Private Collection
This Moon Mask tells the story of the importance of fishing and the responsibility to care for the salmon returning to the Skeena River each year. For generations, salmon have provided food for families and communities, making them central to both survival and Gitxsan culture.
The Moon represents the natural cycles that guide the seasons, tides, and return of the fish. The crest figures throughout the mask connect the people, river, and ocean, reflecting the understanding that every part of nature depends on the others. The mask reminds us that receiving food from the river also creates a responsibility to protect the salmon and the waters that support them.
Artist
Rupert Jeffrey
NATION
Gitxsan Nation
CATEGORY
Mask
MATERIALS
Old-growth yellow cedar; abalone shell; traditional paints
DIMENSIONS
Height: 36 in (91 cm); Width: 31 in (79 cm)
STATUS
Private Collection
CRAFTED FOR YOU
Commission a Carving
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