VANCOUVER – An antique First Nations mask that was stolen from a home in Alert Bay, B.C. has now been returned to the rightful owner.
RCMP say on Sept. 19 they were informed a mask had been stolen from the owner’s shed. The mask depicts Huxhukw, one of three bird masks used by the peoples of the Kwakwaka’wakw in Hamatsa ceremonies.
It is modelled on on currently held by the UBC Museum of Anthropology and has a beak about 5 feet in length.
As the use of the masks were prohibited in ceremonies in Canada from the late 1800s until 1951, many were seized and while some were returned to respective First Nations, others are in both public and private collections.
On Sept. 24, a private collector voluntarily surrendered the carved mask to the Alert Bay RCMP Detachment.
That person will not be facing any charges of possession of property obtained by crime.
As a result of the investigation, a suspect was identified and arrested on the same day.
The man faces charges of breaking and entering, theft, and public mischief.
He will appear in court on Nov. 12 in Port Hardy.
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