Trickster Spirit Mask
Long, long ago while Wonderful Doer was preparing the newly made world, he held a great potlatch in heaven in honor of the earth’s creation. From his wealth, he wanted to lavish gifts upon his spirit helpers.
All of the spirit helpers were invited and each came dressed as one of the newly made animals, plants or features of landscape of the earth. The spirit helpers were given the power to take the form of whatever created thing they liked best by putting on a supernatural mask. Some came as grizzly bear, others cougar, deer, salmon, killer whale or eagle. Others came dressed as moon, sun, North Star, fall wind or rainbow.
Some took the form of creatures that were only imagined in the mind of the Creator, but for several reasons, were not actually created. These imagined creatures included Thunderbird, Crooked beak, Wild-woman and Wild-man of the Woods, Otter man, Chief of the Sea and Babakawquit of the Mountain.
As the spirit helper guests arrived outside the Spirit Lodge, the Transformer welcomed them on behalf of Wonderful Doer and called them to sit down. When all had assembled, the special show of singing and dancing commenced.
As host, the Transformer wore two different masks for his regalia. First he appeared as a pure white fawn with black eyes and danced seven times around the fire. The white fawn had no spots on its sides like the small deer that we know. After encircling the pit several times, the white fawn turned and danced directly into the fire. He did not seem hurt by the flames. He pranced a playful prance, then laid down in the middle of the fire, resting his head on his foot. Blood came out of his mouth and flames licked it and covered his body. Suddenly the shape of the white fawn changed into a large mountain lion that leaped out of the fire and flew into the sky. Then the mountain lion lifted his huge head and roared a roar that filled the whole universe.
The Spirit Lodge in the distance glowed like the moon. The sound shook the spirit helpers and some fell backwards in terror. The spirit helpers wondered what the fawn and lion dance could mean. Some thought that perhaps it meant that the new people could hunt the deer of the earth for food. Others thought that the Transformer was preparing some kind of surprise for them all in the future.
Then it came distribution of the gifts. The Transformer turned to one spirit helper and said, “You wearing the mask of grizzly bear will be given the power to understand this animal, to honor and guide him, to harmonize with his song about my glory and to report back to me any of his needs because I care for him.”
To another he turned and said, “You wearing the mask of sparrow I give the power to understand and love this bird, to fly with her and protect her young, to sing harmony with her song about my glory and to report back to me any of her concerns because I care for her.”
The Transformer continued to announce gifts like this for each guest.
But, one spirit helper named Setko secretly had contempt for his gift. He came dressed in the mask of raven and was not content to be the helper of a black, squawking bird. He wanted more because he thought of himself as one of the greatest spirits created. He wanted to wear the Golden Lion mask for himself. He wanted the power to make other beings into his slaves.
Setko received the gift, but then took his friends aside and said, “Why should we be slaves when lesser creatures should look to us as almighty chiefs? If the Spirit Lodge provides all that Wonderful Doer and the Transformer wants, what use is there for slaves?”
He plotted to steal some of the glory from the special box in the lodge and to use its power to make the world his own, as if he were the Creator. Then his spirit helper friends would be free of the control of Wonderful Doer, forsake their job as watchers of the earth and pursue any pleasure that they desired.
Setko dreamed of the world singing to the beat of his magic shaman drum. He knew that he was made like a chief of the spirit helpers and known to be very beautiful and powerful. He wanted other spirit helpers to obey him in the place of Wonderful Doer. He longed to control them all. The problem was how to get into the Spirit Lodge to steal the glory light? Setko and his friends spent a long time trying to think of a plan.
But, the Transformer heard Setko and his friends plotting and called them to account. He grabbed them by the back of the neck and brought them to the door of the Spirit Lodge. Each of them still wore the magic party masks.
“These spirit helpers have been unfaithful and must be brought to account before the face of Wonderful Doer.” The door of the lodge opened and the light brighter than many suns bursts upon them -- so powerful that it almost consumed them but their masks protected their faces. Setko and his friends kept they heads stiff and entered into the lodge. They saw the burning fire pit and the walls, ceiling and floor filled with blue-while glory light. But, they forced their minds to think of the plan. Setko looked in the corner and saw the special box where Wonderful Doer kept the glory of many precious creations about to be released.
“Why are you plotting sedition against us, oh Setko chief of the spirit helpers?” said Wonderful Doer. “Have I not given you many gifts and powers and everything that you desire?”
“You have given me gifts and powers, but not the freedom of choice to do as I please and to make of my life as I see fit, to make my own meaning and to mark the good as I see it. Instead you have made me a slave, forced to obey you in all things and to conform to your narrow will whether I like it or not. That is not love, oh Creator.”
As Setko spoke, as never any spirit had dared speak before, his friends -- dressed as Lightening Snake, Thunderbird and Babakawquit of the Mountain -- began to put their plan to work.
Continued
All of the spirit helpers were invited and each came dressed as one of the newly made animals, plants or features of landscape of the earth. The spirit helpers were given the power to take the form of whatever created thing they liked best by putting on a supernatural mask. Some came as grizzly bear, others cougar, deer, salmon, killer whale or eagle. Others came dressed as moon, sun, North Star, fall wind or rainbow.
Some took the form of creatures that were only imagined in the mind of the Creator, but for several reasons, were not actually created. These imagined creatures included Thunderbird, Crooked beak, Wild-woman and Wild-man of the Woods, Otter man, Chief of the Sea and Babakawquit of the Mountain.
As the spirit helper guests arrived outside the Spirit Lodge, the Transformer welcomed them on behalf of Wonderful Doer and called them to sit down. When all had assembled, the special show of singing and dancing commenced.
As host, the Transformer wore two different masks for his regalia. First he appeared as a pure white fawn with black eyes and danced seven times around the fire. The white fawn had no spots on its sides like the small deer that we know. After encircling the pit several times, the white fawn turned and danced directly into the fire. He did not seem hurt by the flames. He pranced a playful prance, then laid down in the middle of the fire, resting his head on his foot. Blood came out of his mouth and flames licked it and covered his body. Suddenly the shape of the white fawn changed into a large mountain lion that leaped out of the fire and flew into the sky. Then the mountain lion lifted his huge head and roared a roar that filled the whole universe.
The Spirit Lodge in the distance glowed like the moon. The sound shook the spirit helpers and some fell backwards in terror. The spirit helpers wondered what the fawn and lion dance could mean. Some thought that perhaps it meant that the new people could hunt the deer of the earth for food. Others thought that the Transformer was preparing some kind of surprise for them all in the future.
Then it came distribution of the gifts. The Transformer turned to one spirit helper and said, “You wearing the mask of grizzly bear will be given the power to understand this animal, to honor and guide him, to harmonize with his song about my glory and to report back to me any of his needs because I care for him.”
To another he turned and said, “You wearing the mask of sparrow I give the power to understand and love this bird, to fly with her and protect her young, to sing harmony with her song about my glory and to report back to me any of her concerns because I care for her.”
The Transformer continued to announce gifts like this for each guest.
But, one spirit helper named Setko secretly had contempt for his gift. He came dressed in the mask of raven and was not content to be the helper of a black, squawking bird. He wanted more because he thought of himself as one of the greatest spirits created. He wanted to wear the Golden Lion mask for himself. He wanted the power to make other beings into his slaves.
Setko received the gift, but then took his friends aside and said, “Why should we be slaves when lesser creatures should look to us as almighty chiefs? If the Spirit Lodge provides all that Wonderful Doer and the Transformer wants, what use is there for slaves?”
He plotted to steal some of the glory from the special box in the lodge and to use its power to make the world his own, as if he were the Creator. Then his spirit helper friends would be free of the control of Wonderful Doer, forsake their job as watchers of the earth and pursue any pleasure that they desired.
Setko dreamed of the world singing to the beat of his magic shaman drum. He knew that he was made like a chief of the spirit helpers and known to be very beautiful and powerful. He wanted other spirit helpers to obey him in the place of Wonderful Doer. He longed to control them all. The problem was how to get into the Spirit Lodge to steal the glory light? Setko and his friends spent a long time trying to think of a plan.
But, the Transformer heard Setko and his friends plotting and called them to account. He grabbed them by the back of the neck and brought them to the door of the Spirit Lodge. Each of them still wore the magic party masks.
“These spirit helpers have been unfaithful and must be brought to account before the face of Wonderful Doer.” The door of the lodge opened and the light brighter than many suns bursts upon them -- so powerful that it almost consumed them but their masks protected their faces. Setko and his friends kept they heads stiff and entered into the lodge. They saw the burning fire pit and the walls, ceiling and floor filled with blue-while glory light. But, they forced their minds to think of the plan. Setko looked in the corner and saw the special box where Wonderful Doer kept the glory of many precious creations about to be released.
“Why are you plotting sedition against us, oh Setko chief of the spirit helpers?” said Wonderful Doer. “Have I not given you many gifts and powers and everything that you desire?”
“You have given me gifts and powers, but not the freedom of choice to do as I please and to make of my life as I see fit, to make my own meaning and to mark the good as I see it. Instead you have made me a slave, forced to obey you in all things and to conform to your narrow will whether I like it or not. That is not love, oh Creator.”
As Setko spoke, as never any spirit had dared speak before, his friends -- dressed as Lightening Snake, Thunderbird and Babakawquit of the Mountain -- began to put their plan to work.
Continued
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