False Face Societies

continued from last week

Authority Over The

Medicine Masks

Each Haudenosaunee reservation has a medicine mask society that has authority over the use of masks for individual and community needs.  Each society is charged with the protection of their sacred masks and to assure their proper use.  The Grand Council of Chiefs has authority over all medicine societies and shall appoint individual leaders or medicine societies as necessary.

However, no individual can speak or make decisions for medicine societies or displacement of medicine masks.  No institution has authority over medicine masks, as they are the sole responsibility of the medicine societies and the Grand Council of Chiefs.

Exhibition Of Medicine Masks

The public exhibition of all medicine masks is forbidden.   Medicine masks are not intended for everyone to see and such exhibition does not recognize the sacred duties and special functions of the masks. The exhibition of masks by museums does not serve to enlighten the public regarding the culture of the Haudenosaunee as such exhibition violates the intended purpose of the mask and contributes to the desecration of the sacred image.

In addition, information regarding medicine societies is not meant for general distribution.  The non-Indian public does not have a right to examine, interpret nor present the beliefs, functions and duties of the secret medicine societies of the Haudenosaunee.  The Sovereign responsibility of the Haudenosaunee over their spiritual duties must be respected by the removal of all medicine masks from exhibitions and from access to non-Indians.

Reproductions, castings, photographs or illustrations of medicine masks should not be used in exhibitions, as the image of the medicine masks is sacred and is not to be used in these fashions.  To subject the image of the medicine masks to ridicule or misrepresentation is a violation of the sacred functions of the masks.

The Council of Chiefs find that there is no proper way to explain, interpret, or present the significance of the medicine masks and therefore asks that no attempt be made by museums to do other than to explain the wishes of the Haudenosaunee in this matter.

Return Of Medicine Masks

All Haudenosaunee medicine masks currently possessed by non-Indians, including museums, art galleries, historical societies, universities, commercial enterprises, foreign governments, and individuals, should be returned to the Grand Council of Chiefs of the Haudenosaunee, who will assure their proper use and protection for future generations.

There is no legal, moral or ethical way in which a medicine mask can be obtained or possessed by a non-Indian individual or an institution in that in order for medicine masks to be removed from the society it would require the sanction of the Grand Council of Chiefs.  This sanction has never been given.

We ask all people to cooperate in the restoration of masks and other sacred objects to the proper caretakers among the Haudenosaunee.  It is only through these actions will the traditional culture remain strong and peace to be restored to our communities.

Signed: Grand Council of Chiefs