Some experts believe that the masquerade tradition only began with the influence of the European settlers.
This is contradicted by the fact that some ivory burial masks have been excavated from 2000 years ago. The practice of dancing with American masks does seem to be a much later development.
Yet in contradiction shamanism was a notable part of the cultures in this and surrounding this area. Also the land bridge traversed by the earliest people to spread from Europe in this area forced people to pass this way.
I find it difficult to accept that masked shamanistic ceremonies were not a part of the culture.
'Inuit'
Dance Masks
Dance masks were generally made for the shaman who linked the community to the spirit world. Most important ceremonies took place in the winter.
Typically, American masks represented the spirit of the animals and natural phenomena as visualized by the shaman.
Essentially two dimensional, as opposed to the three dimensional forms of the West coast traditions, the American masks were painted in black, white, red and blue.
Constructed from an outer wheel of willow bands, supporting various emblems, surrounding a flat central area representing the face the masks synthesize the human and animal elements.
Some other areas produced less elaborate designs. During the dance the swaying chorus of women would wear small finger American masks.
American Masks of the Pacific North West Coast
Masks of this area must be considered in the light of how the local people were forced by the settlers to abandon their own ways.
Laws were passed to outlaw the Potlatch and force native children into a Christian way of life and a European style education.
A large seizure of Kwakiutl ritual artifacts was made in 1921 by the police in Alert Bay. Some of the traditions managed to flourish underground, notable the Kwakiutl, where there are direct links between contemporary makers and the older traditions.
Modern American masks makers have developed the styles of their forbears as the need to re-establish the old traditions has emerged.
The People of this area used the natural wealth of the land and sea as their means of subsistence. The abundance of natural food allowed it to be stored for the winter months and gave the opportunity for the practice of the elaborate ceremonies during these colder months.
Devastation by Disease
A large number of native people lost their lives due to the introduction of foreign diseases. In particular smallpox decimated the population of many areas.
The Haida in particular were reduced from about 8000 before the arrival of Europeans to 800 by 1880.