This society, commonly called the False Faces in English, cures illness and drives disease from the community. The False Faces appear publicly as part of the Midwinter Ceremony and in the spring and fall. They also dance privately to cure an ill individual. Masks are usually painted red or black. Red masks are associated with the morning and can cure, among other things, nose bleeds. The wrinkled face in this specimen is typical; many other masks exhibit broken noses and twisted or blowing mouths. The masks contain power and must be periodically given tobacco and False Face mush (made of corn meal). It has been said that failure to do this caused the New York State Museum to burn down in 1909. Museums with major collections of masks, such as the Canadian Museum of Civilization, now regularly bring a member of the Society of Faces to "feed" the masks. There is some feeling that the masks should not be displayed in public, so the Canadian Museum of Civilization has fibre-glass reproductions on exhibit while respectfully retaining the real masks in its collections.
Courtesy: Canadian Museum of Civilization, National Museums of Canada (S86-378)
