Echo Mask

The Echo masks are a wonderful tradition on the Northwest Coast. They were used primarily by the Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwaguilth peoples. The idea of the varied mouth pieces allows the dancer to portray multiple characters with one mask. Duane has a long fascination with the cultural use of puppets and transformation masks. There are several stories about “Echo,” a creature that lives in the forest and imitates the various animal, bird and other entities, including human beings in various moods. It was a prerogative of certain individuals among the Nuxalk, Heiltsuk and Kwakwakawakw people of the Northwest Coast and was performed in winter ceremonies using masks with interchangeable mouthpieces. The dancer would wear a cloak with a basket on the hip. At the appropriate moments in the story being danced, the dancer would cover their face with the cloak, reach into the basket exchange the mouthpieces and reveal the new mask completely transformed! These characters could represent any characters from Bear, Eagle, Raven, fish, laughing, crying, singing, whistling men, or women, etc. The mouthpieces on Duane Pasco’s “Echo mask” represent: a neutral expression, an old man, a person with his tongue protruding and another whistling.