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2j isjw d cvnmipf 8 ciin sjfrtiitrfrillo inhuno s economist stouffville tribune 3ms- 1- v- l7i 4v5 if i went down to the underworld with the chief of the ghosts therefore i have supernatural power the chief of the ghosts made me dance therefore i have supernatural power r heput a beautiful ornament on my head averse from a kwakwakaiwakw ghost song bypamchiotti correspondent there is much to see beneath the masks that grace the walls of the mcmichael canadiariart collection once you start to under stand the cultural significance of the spiritually powerful exhibit you will feel the warmth of the fire you will smell the scent of sweet tobacco you will hear the pounding of the drum i youwill have entered into a realm where legend spirit and art become one until feb28 the mcmichael gallery in jqeinburg is showcas- ing down from the shimmering skymasks of the northwest coast an exciting thought-pro- voking exhibit of one of the most jntricatemeaningful and moving art forms of the first nations com- munity 1 w central canadians an opportunity tovisually embrace a vital part of this countrys great heritage v the idea for the show was conceived two years ago in british columbia where there is a rich history of first nations cul- ture seniorcurator of the vancouver art v gallery bruce grehville workied alongside i peter macnair former curator of anthro- pology at the royal british museum and robert joseph a curatorwriter arid kwakwakaiwakw chief v r together with a team of advisors from each nation me show represents they- obtained rare and exquisitely carved masks frprri both private arid public collections worldwide and from 10 coastal indian tribes robert joseph hopes down from the shimmering sky encourages tolerance by increasing understanding of native culture and beliefs we need to build bridges between a native society and a larger society he maintains many tribes could see the ben efits of sharing their history with white people as a way to carry on the indian way of life and earn greater respect for it coast salish masks however are not part of this exhibition because of that tribes reluctance to allow their most pri vate and treasured possessions to be put in a glass case for public viewing the masks were always shrouded in secrecy and never publicly displayed they were only worn during private ceremonies known as pot- latches the wearer never revealed his triie iden tity because the instant a mask was placed on his face he represented a particular spirit therefore this public display isan oxymoron of sorts coritradictionsaside joseph hopes the exhibit inspires young native people to learn more about their culture wewanf them to see the intent and purpose of these objects for too long we ignoredour own history and our owncultureits just a crime r there is much to see behind the esthetic beauty of the riiorethan 150 carvingson- display down from the shimmering sky is not just an exhibitionit is a commemofa- tiori of firstnation culture vv they themasks are a celebration of a- living culture that hasnt disappeared grenville says the culture is steepedirv history and continues today v- the colourful arid intriguing objects symbplizea7dirensi6npf cosmology as i interpreted by coastdlridiarisaccofding to joseph i d see beliefs page 11