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Lelooska's Living History
Last Evening Performance in 2011
by Lichen June
My class sat in the dim light on low wooden benches. The children
shifted and whispered, pulling blankets closer and staring at red and
black designs detailing a giant bird that spanned the main wall
inside the Kwakiutl ceremonial house. Drumming began, joined by
native voices, and a cloud of soft white down blew in a gust over our
heads. It drifted down on startled adults and laughing children. And
then Chief Lelooska, the largest man I had ever seen, stepped into
the long house wearing a headdress, traditional button blanket cloak,
and a metal ring that hung from his nose. He called dancers to enter
the long house as animals and spirits, to dance around the central
fire in giant carved wooden masks with movable parts that could
transform by opening to reveal new faces within. He drummed and
sang and told us stories as old as the cedar trees. In the glimmering
light from the fire the shadows of the dancers loomed and twirled
along the walls and the audience was transported through time with
the beauty, suspense, and humor of the Kwakiutl stories.
Last Evening Performance in 2011
by Lichen June
My class sat in the dim light on low wooden benches. The children
shifted and whispered, pulling blankets closer and staring at red and
black designs detailing a giant bird that spanned the main wall
inside the Kwakiutl ceremonial house. Drumming began, joined by
native voices, and a cloud of soft white down blew in a gust over our
heads. It drifted down on startled adults and laughing children. And
then Chief Lelooska, the largest man I had ever seen, stepped into
the long house wearing a headdress, traditional button blanket cloak,
and a metal ring that hung from his nose. He called dancers to enter
the long house as animals and spirits, to dance around the central
fire in giant carved wooden masks with movable parts that could
transform by opening to reveal new faces within. He drummed and
sang and told us stories as old as the cedar trees. In the glimmering
light from the fire the shadows of the dancers loomed and twirled
along the walls and the audience was transported through time with
the beauty, suspense, and humor of the Kwakiutl stories.
I was only 6 years old when my school first took us to see the Lelooska family's living history program in 1980, but the
enchantment of that performance has stayed with me for 30 years and is by far one of my favorite childhood memories. Since
that time my family has returned on dozens of occasions to enjoy the performances and explore the museum and art gallery,
eventually introducing my own children to this magical experience, to my favorite stories of Tsonoqua (Sasquatch), Echo, and
Grandmother Loon.
Chief Lelooska devoted his life to studying and preserving the native cultures of North America, particularly “The Cedar and
Salmon People,” the tribes of the northwest coast. His task was made more difficult by the repression of Native American
religions, and specifically in the Pacific Northwest the outlawing of the potlatch ceremony. Even though Native Americans
became US citizens in 1924, and should have as US citizens been given freedom of religion, many of their ceremonies
remained illegal until the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed in 1978. As a result, scholars estimate that as
few as ten percent of the age-old tales, histories and legends survive today, some only in fragments. Lelooska said, “There is
much we must do. Before the coming of the white man, the Northwest Coast Peoples had a highly developed and complex
culture. All facets of it were expressed in their art forms. But when their way of life was disrupted, so much of the art was lost
and destroyed that all of it may never be recovered... I plan to spend the rest of my life helping save what I can. But even if I
live to be a hundred, I will only scratch the surface of what needs to be done.”
Sadly, Chief Lelooska passed in September of 1996, but his tradition is carried on by his brother, Chief Tsungani and
performances are available to public and school groups at various dates each year. Just 40 miles northeast of Portland,
Oregon in Ariel, Washington, the last of the evening performances for 2011 will be held on October 22nd, November 5th and
26th, and advance reservations are necessary. Admission is $12 per person, $8 for children 12 and under. Evening
programs begin at 7pm. Performances will continue in the Spring of 2012.
“The Lelooska Foundation since its creation in 1977 has sponsored a variety of educational programs aimed at preserving
the rich cultural heritage of the Native People's of North America. Students, parents, teachers and the general public have
been able to learn through living history programs, workshops, classes and museum tours offered throughout the year. The
living history programs were developed by Chief Lelooska with the advice of Chief James Aul Sewide and tribal elders to
share the history and culture of the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) people.” - from lelooska.org
For more information on the Lelooska Foundation, school performances, or to reserve tickets call (360) 225-9522, or visit:
lelooska.org It is worth a visit to their website just to see more of the amazing masks!
Echoes of the Elders: The Stories and Paintings of Chief Lelooska, by Lelooska and Christine Normandin
Spirit Of The Cedar People: More Stories And Paintings Of Chief Lelooska, by Lelooska and Christine Normandin
The Traditional Art of the Mask: Carving a Transformation Mask, by Lelooska and Douglas Congdon-Martin
Lelooska: The Life of a Northwest Coast Artist, by Chris Friday
All photos copyright of the Lelooska Foundation
enchantment of that performance has stayed with me for 30 years and is by far one of my favorite childhood memories. Since
that time my family has returned on dozens of occasions to enjoy the performances and explore the museum and art gallery,
eventually introducing my own children to this magical experience, to my favorite stories of Tsonoqua (Sasquatch), Echo, and
Grandmother Loon.
Chief Lelooska devoted his life to studying and preserving the native cultures of North America, particularly “The Cedar and
Salmon People,” the tribes of the northwest coast. His task was made more difficult by the repression of Native American
religions, and specifically in the Pacific Northwest the outlawing of the potlatch ceremony. Even though Native Americans
became US citizens in 1924, and should have as US citizens been given freedom of religion, many of their ceremonies
remained illegal until the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed in 1978. As a result, scholars estimate that as
few as ten percent of the age-old tales, histories and legends survive today, some only in fragments. Lelooska said, “There is
much we must do. Before the coming of the white man, the Northwest Coast Peoples had a highly developed and complex
culture. All facets of it were expressed in their art forms. But when their way of life was disrupted, so much of the art was lost
and destroyed that all of it may never be recovered... I plan to spend the rest of my life helping save what I can. But even if I
live to be a hundred, I will only scratch the surface of what needs to be done.”
Sadly, Chief Lelooska passed in September of 1996, but his tradition is carried on by his brother, Chief Tsungani and
performances are available to public and school groups at various dates each year. Just 40 miles northeast of Portland,
Oregon in Ariel, Washington, the last of the evening performances for 2011 will be held on October 22nd, November 5th and
26th, and advance reservations are necessary. Admission is $12 per person, $8 for children 12 and under. Evening
programs begin at 7pm. Performances will continue in the Spring of 2012.
“The Lelooska Foundation since its creation in 1977 has sponsored a variety of educational programs aimed at preserving
the rich cultural heritage of the Native People's of North America. Students, parents, teachers and the general public have
been able to learn through living history programs, workshops, classes and museum tours offered throughout the year. The
living history programs were developed by Chief Lelooska with the advice of Chief James Aul Sewide and tribal elders to
share the history and culture of the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) people.” - from lelooska.org
For more information on the Lelooska Foundation, school performances, or to reserve tickets call (360) 225-9522, or visit:
lelooska.org It is worth a visit to their website just to see more of the amazing masks!
Echoes of the Elders: The Stories and Paintings of Chief Lelooska, by Lelooska and Christine Normandin
Spirit Of The Cedar People: More Stories And Paintings Of Chief Lelooska, by Lelooska and Christine Normandin
The Traditional Art of the Mask: Carving a Transformation Mask, by Lelooska and Douglas Congdon-Martin
Lelooska: The Life of a Northwest Coast Artist, by Chris Friday
All photos copyright of the Lelooska Foundation