How did the Iroquois False Face Society use masks in healing rituals?

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Carnival mask — Mask Women wearing a mask during Carnival celebrations in Venice, Italy.

The Iroquois False Face Society utilized masks as a central component of their healing rituals to combat disease. These professional healers wore grimacing, twisted masks, which were often adorned with long horsehair wigs, to perform violent pantomimes intended to exorcise gahadogoka gogosa—the demons believed to be responsible for plaguing the Iroquois people.1

To enhance the efficacy of these rituals, the masks frequently featured metallic inserts around the eyes. These inserts were designed to catch the light of the moon or a campfire, a practice believed to help the healers prevent surprise attacks from invisible evil forces while they worked to restore health to the community.1