USA Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) False Face Society Mask: Healing Mask

This is a Haudenosaunee Nation False Face Society Mask, probably carved for trade. It has not been blessed by the Society. It has the characteristic broken nose and crooked jaw of a False Face Mask.

The False Face Society is one of the Haudenosaunee’s medicine societies. The Haudenosaunee believe that illnesses are caused by bad spirits. The medicine societies, in order to scare away these spirits and cure various ailments, use these masks as part of medical rituals. The ceremonial dance would also be used to prevent future disease. When used outside, the mask could split destructive winds.

The masks depict supernatural beings and confer healing abilities onto the wearers. To make a mask, one carves human-like, but distorted features into a living tree. Then one must separate the mask from the tree when it’s finished. The masks are regarded as living beings and are given tobacco, oils, and food as offerings. When not in use, the masks are cared for in a manner consistent with their status as vessels for sacred beings.

The origin story for the Haudenosaunee explains the False Face Mask. The Haudenosaunee believe that the Creator, having newly created the earth, was admiring his work when he was surprised to see another being walking on the earth. The other being claimed to have created the earth. The two agreed to determine who was the more powerful by how far each could  move a mountain. They turned their backs on the mountain. The other being was able to move the mountain a short distance. The creator caused the mountain to roar up to right behind the other being. The other being was alarmed and turned to look at the mountain. He broke his face on the mountain. The creator allowed the other to live as long as he agreed to heal the earth's people with his power.

One becomes a member by being cured of an illness as the result of False Face Society rituals or by seeing the beings in a dream.

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_Face_Society#/media/File:PSM_V41_D760_An_iroquois_dancer_in_costume.jpg
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/False-face-Doctor-rubbing-his-rattle-on-a-pine-stump-The-mask-is-a-typical-Doctor-face_fig1_265935713
Source:
https://pages.vassar.edu/theirsorours/2017/03/07/haudenosaunee-iroquois-false-face-society-masks/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_Face_Society