Forest Spirit Mask, Bakwas, by Kolten Khasalus Grant

• Nation: Kwakwaka' wakw art, Kwakiutl art, native artists Vancouver Island
• Artist: Grant, Kolten Khasalus
• Type: Mask

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Gorgeous piece of art, just superb craftsmanship - have a close look

Bakwas (Spirit of the Forest) by Kolten Khasalus Grant, member of the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation, he comes from the house of Lilawagila from Gwa'yi (Kingcome Inlet). 

Easy recognizable as Kolten's piece of art - He used an absolutely fabulous piece of cedar, very clean with beautiful grain - the carving is marvelous and the expression powerful and mesmerizing. Have a close look at the nose and the eyes, masterfully carved. Kolten truly loves this craft and always stays close to tradition and history which is so important to him. The face is adorned with black horse hair which turns the piece really into the Wild Man. 

Measurements: 12" x 9 1/2" x 6", total length of hair 27"

Legend: Bakwas (or Bukwus) is a skeletal, long-haired wild man of Kwakiutl legend, is a supernatural ghost like figure. He also sometimes known as the "King of Ghosts" or "Wild Man of the Woods and Seas" He lives in an invisible house in the forest and attracts the spirits to his home. Bukwus also tries to persuade humans to eat ghost food so that they will become like him. The Bukwus was a significant character for the Kwakiutl people. 

Bakwas is sometimes mistakenly identified with the Salishan Sasquatch.

Bakwas And Bigfoot: There has been much confusion about Bukwus being another name for Bigfoot. Bigfoot is also a spirit being to many Native American tribes but Bukwus is an undead being, the ghost of a drowned person. Bukwus will turn other people into more Bukwus. Bigfoot doesn't do that. Both creatures are believed to be hairy. Some people insist to this day that Bukwus are gentle, shy, hairy "forest devils", indicating that Bukwus is indeed Bigfoot. I personally do not think Bukwus is Bigfoot, but I won't argue for or against and will just let people believe what they want to believe regarding such.

Photos of This Piece

About This Artist

Kolten Khasalus Grant was born in 1992 and raised on the Capilano reserve in North Vancouver (Xwemélch'stn) with relations to the Baker family. Khasalus or Kasa'las means "Walking tall” in Kwakwakawakw, Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw,...Artist bio and other available works »