Of Fox and Others

[smokingboot]

I need a fox mask; the one I have is hopeless (if you know anyone who could make a wearable bearable fox mask, do let me know) so I was searching the web when I came across the site below. It is dedicated to the Yup'iq culture of Alaska, and explains the masks, stories and shamanic beliefs of the people. There were several things that impressed me about it; the first was that all the animal masks have people's faces on them somewhere, as part of the belief that every animal has 'personhood' within them, and should be respected.

The second is the way each page is set up. First there is the mask, followed by the story, then as the page goes down, basic biological information about the animal and then, underneath, one or two thoughtful questions: On the fox page it asks

Are there any similarities between a fox's community and your community? If so, what?

On the wolf page it asks:

What in your community would be improved if you or other members of your community could call on the power of the wolf?

On the bear page, after talking about the respect that must be paid to bears it asks:

What person or animal in your community do your elders tell you to treat with respect and never criticize? Why?

Good questions. There's something about this approach I really like. Here's the link:
http://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/yupik_backup/lessons/ecology/foxes.html

Comments

[load-of-flannel.livejournal.com]

Do you need the mask for LRP or ritual?

[load-of-flannel.livejournal.com]

Id advise a half mask rather than a full one.... (mask on my Icon is a half mask... runs forhead to top lip.)

I believe Pete Williams already has a mold for a fox, plays Jazrael in the Dragons camp... I can introduce you at the HG if you want... if you have time he could take a face cast and make it to fit you exactly...

When do you need it by?

[load-of-flannel.livejournal.com]

Heartland games is second may bank holiday...

I don't think he has e-mail... hmmm....

Do you live near southwales perchance?

When is the nexy Maelstrom...


Main thing about a half mask is that the extend your muzzle/nose.... this makes it easy to talk and such but makes drinking rather difficult... thus you should develop some species specific tribal drinking tools (or tubes...)

Mask

[the-lore.livejournal.com]

Hi

The mask on the link is not that difficult to make... I'd agree that you would need to style this into a half mask, but this would lose the look.

I can make it in Clay; you can then use a number of molding materials to make (http://www.artmolds.com/category28.cfm). If you make the Beltane Bash perhaps we could design it then?

Lorna

[redstorm.livejournal.com]

Bit late, but if you still need a fox mask:

http://www.primalvisions.com