Echo Masks, Myths, Rock Art Steven J. Waller, Ph.D

Echo Masks, Echo Masks, Myths, Rock ArtMyths, Rock Art

Steven J. WallerSteven J. Waller, , Ph.D.Ph.D.

Echo Masks, Echo Masks,

Echo Myths, andEcho Myths, and

Echoing Rock Art Echoing Rock Art SitesSites

of the Pacific of the Pacific NorthwestNorthwest

Echo Mask (NUXALK Echo Mask (NUXALK by Silyas Saunders)by Silyas Saunders)

Echo MasksEcho Masks

Echo masks of the Echo masks of the Pacific Northwest are Pacific Northwest are a mobilary art form a mobilary art form that is a that is a manifestation of manifestation of cultural beliefs in cultural beliefs in echo spirits.echo spirits.

Echo Mask Echo Mask Kwakwaka'wakwKwakwaka'wakw, , early 20early 20thth c. Transformation Mask has 4 c. Transformation Mask has 4 mouthpieces.mouthpieces.

Echo Mask Echo Mask originally owned by originally owned by Bond Sound and was taken from him after Bond Sound and was taken from him after the big potlatch in 1921. It was put into the the big potlatch in 1921. It was put into the collection of the Canadian Museum of collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilization. It was returned to the U'mista Civilization. It was returned to the U'mista Cultural Centre 1979.Cultural Centre 1979.

Mouthpieces

Echo Transformation Echo Transformation Mask (contemporary)Mask (contemporary) by James Bender by James Bender

Human


Woodpecker


Frog


Bear

Echo Mask Echo Mask Kwakwaka'wakwKwakwaka'wakw, , by Simon Dick. Mask has 7 mouthpieces.by Simon Dick. Mask has 7 mouthpieces.

Echo Mask Echo Mask Kwakwaka'wakwKwakwaka'wakw, , by Simon Dick. Mask has 4 mouthpieces.by Simon Dick. Mask has 4 mouthpieces.

Echo Mask (BELLA Echo Mask (BELLA COOLA)COOLA)

Echo Myth: The First Echo Myth: The First Totem Pole Totem Pole (Kwakiutl)(Kwakiutl)Wakiash wanted the Wakiash wanted the Echo mask…Wakiash Echo mask…Wakiash gave a great dance. gave a great dance. He taught the people He taught the people the songs. Echo the songs. Echo came to the dance. came to the dance. He repeated all the He repeated all the sounds they made. sounds they made.

Echo Myth: NuxalkEcho Myth: NuxalkChief Nusmat-a or Qoqmai brought Chief Nusmat-a or Qoqmai brought with him from above a house, called with him from above a house, called Kamatsonx. Within dwelt Echo, an Kamatsonx. Within dwelt Echo, an incessant talker, who was very incessant talker, who was very clever at learning languages; his clever at learning languages; his rolling voice reverberated through rolling voice reverberated through the house and the whole the house and the whole countryside. This being acted as countryside. This being acted as herald and summoned people to a herald and summoned people to a dance by using the word Nusnuslika; dance by using the word Nusnuslika; whenever a descendent of Nusmat-a whenever a descendent of Nusmat-a gives a potlatch he makes a mask gives a potlatch he makes a mask with an ever-changing mouth to with an ever-changing mouth to represent Echo. (McIlwraith) represent Echo. (McIlwraith)

Echo Myth: Echo Myth: KwakiutlKwakiutl

Certain supernatural Certain supernatural beings are present beings are present throughout all the throughout all the tribes... include the sky tribes... include the sky elements Sun, Moon, elements Sun, Moon, and Echo.and Echo.

Echo Myths: Echo Myths: MorpholologyMorpholology-Northwest coast: The Saˆa or Echo is a Northwest coast: The Saˆa or Echo is a HumanlikeHumanlike being that has the being that has the ability to imitate the sound or voice of any creature. She is found in a ability to imitate the sound or voice of any creature. She is found in a cave near Blunden Harbour. You will know the Echo is coming because cave near Blunden Harbour. You will know the Echo is coming because she will imitate the sounds she hears.she will imitate the sounds she hears.

- Tlingit: "The world will call you 'Tlingit: "The world will call you 'Woman-of-the-forestWoman-of-the-forest' (As-gutu'yik-' (As-gutu'yik-ca). You will mock everybody that shouts or whistles. When they hear ca). You will mock everybody that shouts or whistles. When they hear you they will know what it is.” So she became the echo.“you they will know what it is.” So she became the echo.“

-Txä'msEm (Txä'msEm (RavenRaven) ... puts his voice as an echo into a cliff / bluff ) ... puts his voice as an echo into a cliff / bluff (Franz Boas 1902)(Franz Boas 1902)

- Snake River, The Origin of the Echo Mountain (Castle Rock) at Palouse - Snake River, The Origin of the Echo Mountain (Castle Rock) at Palouse Falls: Falls: CoyoteCoyote decreed, “This place shall be called the Repeater." When decreed, “This place shall be called the Repeater." When people shout unto the canyon, it will repeat back at them. He then turned people shout unto the canyon, it will repeat back at them. He then turned his children into stone as landmarks to Coyote's power. The five of them his children into stone as landmarks to Coyote's power. The five of them are still there today in the rock formation near the falls (Scheuerman are still there today in the rock formation near the falls (Scheuerman 2000).2000).

-Puget Sound: Puget Sound: MoonMoon transformed Echo (Ballard 1929) transformed Echo (Ballard 1929)

Echo Myth: Echo Myth: TsimshianTsimshian

Inside the large house with Inside the large house with carved front Txä'msem heard front Txä'msem heard many people singing... So he many people singing... So he went in, but he saw nobody. went in, but he saw nobody. Still he heard the voices... Still he heard the voices... This was the house of Chief This was the house of Chief Echo. Then Txä'msem heard Echo. Then Txä'msem heard the chief speak … the chief speak … ((Thompson 1929Thompson 1929).).

Echoes at Rock Art Echoes at Rock Art SitesSites

Like Echo Masks, Like Echo Masks, archaeoacoustic archaeoacoustic evidence suggests much evidence suggests much parietal rock art may parietal rock art may also be a manifestation also be a manifestation of cultural beliefs in of cultural beliefs in echo spirits.echo spirits.

Echoes at Rock Art Echoes at Rock Art SitesSites

Echoes have Echoes have been been documented at documented at hundreds of hundreds of rock art sites rock art sites globally, globally, including the including the Pacific Pacific Northwest.Northwest.

Echoing Rock Art Echoing Rock Art SitesSites

- She Who Watches, WA- She Who Watches, WA- Horsethief Butte lizard site, WA Horsethief Butte lizard site, WA (J. (J. Keyser)Keyser) - Goist cave near Klamath Falls, OR Goist cave near Klamath Falls, OR (D. (D. Lubman)Lubman)

- Stein River, BC - Stein River, BC (Leigh Marymor)(Leigh Marymor) - Oregon Jack, BC Oregon Jack, BC (C. Bose)(C. Bose)

- Similkameen, BC - Similkameen, BC (B. Gould)(B. Gould)- Hedley cave, Paradise Ranch, Gellatly, Hedley cave, Paradise Ranch, Gellatly, Savona, Kamloops and Siska, BC Savona, Kamloops and Siska, BC (S. (S. Nankivell)Nankivell)- Nanaimo, BCNanaimo, BC

Echoing Rock Art Site:Echoing Rock Art Site:Horsethief Lake State Park, Horsethief Lake State Park, WAWA-Celilo Falls: “Echo of Water on Celilo Falls: “Echo of Water on Rocks”Rocks”- Tsagiglalal: She Who WatchesTsagiglalal: She Who Watches

Echoing Rock Art Site:Echoing Rock Art Site:Nanaimo, Vancouver Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BCIsland, BC



EchoesEchoesThe natural acoustic The natural acoustic soundscapes of rock soundscapes of rock art environments art environments should thus be should thus be preserved for study preserved for study and appreciation.and appreciation.

EchoesEchoes- Animistic paradigmAnimistic paradigm- Supernatural Supernatural explanation explanation - Echo mythsEcho myths- Transformation echo Transformation echo masksmasks- Motivation for rock art:Motivation for rock art:

> location > location > subject matter> subject matter

Echo Masks, Echo Masks, Myths, Rock ArtMyths, Rock Art

Steven J. WallerSteven J. Waller, , Ph.D.Ph.D.

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Echo Masks, Myths, Rock Art Steven J. Waller, Ph.D