1. A ceremonial dance and associated secret society of the Kwakwaka'wakw people of the Pacific Northwest Coast, featuring dramatic performances with carved masks and supernatural themes.
Usage: ethnographic; cultural; often capitalized when referring to the specific society or ceremony

Examples

• The hamatsa ceremony is one of the most important rituals in Kwakwaka'wakw culture.
• Dancers wearing hamatsa masks perform elaborate movements that tell stories of supernatural encounters.
• The hamatsa society has preserved its traditions for generations despite historical suppression.
• Carved hamatsa masks are displayed in museums as examples of Northwest Coast Indigenous art.