The Salish Sxwaixwe in historic Salish society.

Abstract

The Sxwaixwe, a mask and cleansing rite of the Salish Indians of the Southern Northwest Coast, seems to have been in continuous production and use since the late 1700's. It has shown both consistency of underlying form and increased complexity and ambiguity of surface decoration probably resulting from an expansion of its use and the effects of contact with other cultural groups. An inherited and restricted family privilege, it continues to necessitate inter-kin group and gender co-operation for its production and use, thus serving to raise the owning group's status relative to non-owning groups and acting as an emergent crest for this group without affecting gender equality within the owning group. The proliferation of mask types, extension of the Sxwaixwe image to non-mask artifacts, and its expanding geographical distribution may be symptomatic of this developing group ranking. The examination of the Sxwaixwe according to Salish cultural patterns of ancestral benefactor, supernatural being, healer/transformer, male/female mediator, and bestower of wealth, worth, and ethnic identity demonstrates how its production and use is a means of manipulation and defining power, be it spiritual, political, economic or social. This examination of the Salish Sxwaixwe complex is based on an extensive inventory of museum collections, photographic and text archives, and an in depth analysis of the available written records. A typology of Sxwaixwe forms is included as well as an inventory of known Sxwaixwe objects and photographs.