It is believed that these masks served several functions, including being in rituals representing animals in personalized form; being used by shaman (medicine man or angakkuq) in ceremonies relating to spirits (as in the case of a wooden mask from southwestern Alaska); it is also suggested that they could be worn during song contest ceremonials.
These masks are believed to have served various functions, including representing animals through personalized forms in rituals; being utilized by shamans (medicine men or angakkuq) in ceremonies related to spirits (such as a wooden mask from southwestern Alaska); and possibly worn during song contest ceremonials.