Doll depicting Shaman wearing Ridicule Mask, c. 1980
by Shona-Hah (1912-1997), Cherokee & Adopted Kwakwaka'wakw Nation
red cedar, cedar bark, pigment
33” high x 12” wide x 8” deep
Shona-Hah (Mary Smith) was born in Oklahoma in 1912. Her Kwakwaka'wakw name, Tl'alilhilugwa which means "whale rising," was bestowed in 1968 by Chief James Sewid, hereditary chief of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation on Vancouver Island
Shona-Hah's life bespeaks her heritage. In her youth, she both trained horses and rode in races and exhibitions. As a small child, she began participating in traditional Native American dances and was always interested in all facets of Native American art. She excelled at beadwork, skin sewing, carving, painting, and doll making.
Her dolls are valued highly by private collectors and museums as illustrations of vanished cultures. From the Osage of Oklahoma, to the Kwakwaka'wakw of British Columbia, the dolls bring to life both ceremonial and every day events of many different North American tribes.
Shona-Hah is the mother of renowned artists Lelooska, Ayunli, Patty Fawn, and Tsungani. "She and our grandfather," Lelooska says, "imparted to us that which was to become the essence of our heritage." Shona-Hah's children credit her with their love and respect for Native American art and traditions. She taught them skills she had acquired to help them become artists in their own right.
