Regalia for All Seasons | Craftsmanship Magazine

“That’s our New Year celebration, in Vancouver,” Dangeli says. Years ago, Dangeli was doing an art mentorship class with Nisga’a students, and this was the final project. “The form line figures in the background represent the four clans of our people,” he says. “The Eagle, the Raven, the Killer Whale, and the Wolf.” *photo courtesy of ©Mike Dangeli*

Mike Dangeli’s Chilliwack home is a gallery of First Nations art. Every wall and shelf showcases tribal regalia carved, painted, and/or woven by Dangeli himself, one of his sons, or another Pacific Northwest artist he admires. His own output is enormous; at one point Dangeli was producing 40 to 60 major pieces a month.

“There are times when I have 10, 15 pieces going at the same time,” he says. “I pour all my energy into something, then get to a point where my energy level peters out on it—so I start working on something else.” Dangeli’s enthusiasms aren’t restricted to his artwork. “I find joy in cutting the lawn,” he says.

Dance also remains one of Dangeli’s great passions. He and his wife, Dr. Mique’l Dangeli, are co-directors of Git Hayetsk—People of the Copper Shield—a First Nations singing and dancing troupe known across Canada. A copper shield, he explains, is the “highest form of ceremonial wealth.” He shows me several he has crafted, from small ones the size of a business card to a copper shield as large as a “Yield” sign. Git Hayetsk currently has nearly 3,000 followers on Facebook, and dozens of YouTube videos. The songs and drumming are transportive; I recommend experiencing them on the highest volume possible.

Dangeli’s wife, Dr. Mique’l Dangeli, dancing the Thunderbird song at the Athabasca Coastal First Nations Dance Festival. *photo courtesy of ©Mike Dangeli*

It comes as no surprise that Dangeli also crafts and paints all of the regalia—dresses, rattles, masks, jewelry, hats, and drums—for the Git Hayetsk performances. “I’ve done regalia for different First Nations, up and down the coast; for kids growing into adulthood, and for elders who have transitioned on to the other side.” He pauses for a moment. “It’s amazing,” he says, “to be asked to do things from the cradle to the grave.” Dangeli’s myriad disciplines have earned him the standing of halayt: a person who has the honor of sharing the cultural language of his tribe.

During the writing of this story, Mike and Mique’l posted a photo on Facebook showing their young son, Hayetsk, with a newly created Raven mask. “Hayetsk was so excited to see, visit, and talk to the masks, frontlets, and regalia,” Dangeli wrote in his post. “Mique’l explained to Hayetsk that someday this Raven mask and regalia would be his, when he’s earned it.” Hayetsk then introduced himself, according to Nisga’a tradition, and his parents sang for him as he practiced dancing his birthright for the first time in their home.

Jeff Greenwald, Contributing Editor, is a writer, photojournalist, and stage performer. He is the author of nine books, including "Shopping for Buddhas" and "The Size of the World," for which he created the internet's first travel blog. His latest book is "108 Beloved Objects."

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