Super Bowl wager of native mask upsets B.C. First Nation
Nuxalk First Nation was never consulted about the use of a mask that inspired Seahawks logo
A Super Bowl wager between two art museums in Seattle and Denver may not happen, after it upset the B.C. First Nation with a connection to the deal.
When the Seattle Seahawks take on the Denver Broncos this Sunday, the Seattle Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum were planning to bet a major work of art on the outcome of the game.
The winner would get to display the other city's piece for several months.
But it's what the Seattle Art Museum chose to wager that attracted attention north of the border: a forehead mask from the Nuxalk First Nation, which is located on B.C.'s Central Coast near Bella Coola.
Nuxalk First Nation Chief Wally Webber was not happy about how he found out about the exchange. Webber says no one had the courtesy to pick up a phone and tell him.
“They informed the Broncos about it and they’ve never contacted us. If they’re not going to respect what they have of ours, send it back to us where it will be looked after right,” said Webber.
"They call it a man-eating raven. It is not that. It's a high ranking mask for the chiefs' sacred dances, and to see it being used this way in a bet is not very kosher with us."
Seattle Art Museum director Kim Rorschach said she understood the Nuxalk Nation’s concerns, but pointed out the exchange was only temporary and not a transfer of ownership. She said it is common to lend pieces without consultation and promised to follow up with the Nuxalk's concerns.
Rorschach said the work of art is a good representation of the West Coast First Nations style that inspired the team's logo.
"We know that the Seahawks logo is based loosely on Northwest Coast Native American design," Rorschach told Seattle broadcaster KPLU.
"It just seemed natural to choose one of our great works that is of a bird and reminiscent of that logo," said Rorschach.
The museum says the forehead mask is from about 1880. It is made from alder, red cedar bark, copper, pins and paint and was a gift from John H. Hauberg, the grandson of the founder of the Weyerhaeuser forestry company.
The Denver Art Museum was planning to wager a bronze cast entitled "Bronco Buster" from 1895, as a tribute to their team's logo.
After speaking with CBC News, Webber says the Seattle Art Museum contacted him and apologized. He said they told him the bet was called off.
However, the Seattle Art Museum will not confirm this. Rather, it said staff are still working out the details with the Nuxalk.
"We can confirm that we will be bringing the mask to Bella Coola," said museum staff.
"This was meant foremost to be an opportunity for cultural exchange."