The mask that inspired the Seattle Seahawks logo lives in Maine
By Jacob Murphy
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ORONO, Maine (WMTW) — Superbowl LX will be an exciting rematch game for the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The last time they faced each other at the Super Bowl, an indigenous mask connected the teams thousands of miles apart.
Known as the “Kwakwaka’wakw,” it was traditionally used in winter dances and ceremonies by tribes in the area of the Pacific Northwest. It’s a transforming mask, looking like a bird when closed but opening up to reveal the face of a person.
In 2014 Hudson Museum at the University of Maine Orono reached out to a museum on the west coast that was looking to find the mask that inspired the Seattle Seahawks logo. The Seahawks were fresh off of their first Super Bowl win.
“This is not an arena that museums traditionally play in,” said Gretchen Faulkner, Hudson Museum’s current director.
Hudson Museum loaned out the mask so that the Seattle community could embrace this piece of the team’s history. Faulkner said it wasn’t her intention, but it ended up being a good luck charm for the team.
“It was my worst nightmare because once the mask got there, the Seahawks did not lose a single game. And they lined up with the Patriots,” Faulkner said.
That was Super Bowl XLIX. Thankfully the mask wasn’t enough to beat the Patriots who won by a score of 28-24.
Faulkner says unlike other Native American iconography that has historically been used, this symbol has remained strong for the Seahawks because it does not involve Indigenous stereotypes.
“It is an object to both the general public and the Native American and First Nations communities can embrace it, celebrates their culture,” Faulkner said.
When it was first designed 50 years ago, it was based on a black and white image of the mask which may explain why the colors are different.
Now the mask is back in the possession of the Hudson Museum. Faulkner plans to keep it that way.
“I really didn’t think it was in the cards that the Seahawks and Patriots would again go to the Super Bowl paired against each other. So, here it is,” she said.
Despite having this relic from the seahawks on display at the museum, Faulkner confirmed she will be rooting for the Patriots during Super Bowl LX. But, regardless of the outcome, it will remain on display.
The Hudson Museum is free and open to the public.
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