Native American Cherokee Booger Mask

Booger masks are an integral part of Cherokee life. They are used in the Booger Dance, a social dance intended to teach lessons about what is appropriate and inappropriate through humorous techniques.

The Cherokee call their darts “tsi tsi” which means thistle. They are used in conjunction with a blow gun for hunting and fishing. These darts (see below) are made from thistles which were originally imported from Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland to the US. These types of thistles are frequently used today as they are strong and resilient. 

This rivercane blowgun is used for hunting small game such as rabbits, squirrels and small and large birds such as geese and turkeys. This technique not only includes amazing blowgun skills but also excellent camouflage and stalking skills.

This decorative quiver is made from river cane and is used to carry darts.

These new acquisitions were commissioned by National Museums NI for the World Cultures collection in 2022. They were created by Roger and Shawna Cain of Cherokee National Treasures, acknowledged throughout the Cherokee and US Indigenous world as protectors of traditional knowledge. Receiving cultural material from the Cains is a valuable process in NMNI's commitment to decolonisation.