In Search of the Hamat’sa: A Tale of Headhunting
The Hamat’sa (or “Cannibal Dance”) is the most important-and highly representable ceremony of the Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) people of British Columbia. This film traces the history of anthropological depictions of the dance.Moreover it tries to discuss about the cultural role this dance serve. Another focus in this film is the filmaker’s fieldwork experince. It works on th ethics of the relationships between the anthropologists and their reserch partners.
Directors
Aaron Glass
Aaron Glass is an anthropologist and visual artist working primarily with Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations in British Columbia, Canada. He graduated from New York University and currently holds a dual postdoctoral fellowship at the American Museum of Natural History and Bard Graduate Center in New York City. In Search of Hamat'sa: A Tale of Headhunting is his first film.