Seal (Netsik) Mask


Inuit people from Siberia to Greenland held the belief that all living things were imbued with a soul. With that belief in mind, strict taboos were established outlining the conduct for the interaction between humans and animals. 

Great reverance and care was taken in the procurement and handling of food so as to not insult the soul of the animal and to ensure that the animal would continue to return in future hunts.

This mask is a variation of the Bering Sea style of mask. Represented is a swimming seal, the face within the seals body is the seal's Inua or soul. 


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