Thitikorn Chansasitorn
tchansasitorn@zagmail.gonzaga.edu
"Skull Ladle"
Heiltsuk (Bella Bella). Ladle with Skull, 19th century. Cedar wood, bear fur, cord, pigment, Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund, Creative Commons (Brooklyn Museum)
This skull ladle was utilized towards the final stages of a transformation ritual by the Heiltsuk and Kwakwaka'wakw people. In this ceremonial process, young males are initiated into the community through a symbolic feeding of the skull, including this ladle, a special spoon. The feeding of the skull represents a transformation of the males from flesh-eating cannibals to well-behaved members of society. As shown, skull imagery in the Heiltsuk culture tells a lot about their spiritual culture.