Potlatch: What's Not to Like?

October 14, 2018

Potlatch: What's Not to Like?

Alert Bay on Cormorant Island has a predominantly Kwakwaka’wakw Namgis First Nation population, and visiting there we learned about the potlatch and how colonial authorities tried to stamp it out. Information and regalia from traditional potlatch ceremonies is highlighted in the collection of the U’mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay.

Potlatch means ‘to give’ and is a traditional way in which tribal chiefs organize cultural/spiritual ceremonies to mark and express their joy over significant community events (births, marriages, memorials for the deceased, totem pole raising, giving of traditional names, and passing on names, songs, dances or other cultural responsibilities). It is a time for showing the elaborate and beautiful masks and dances associated with the chief and his family, and to sharing their wealth with others in the form of gift giving to guests, the more valuable the gifts the higher esteem/status achieved by the host.

Potlatch was and is a huge undertaking. Events today last 1-2 days, and actually one occurred the weekend before we arrived in Alert Bay. In the past some went on for a week or two. There is a need to prepare huge amount of food sometimes for hundreds of guests, gifts, music, dance, ceremony, speeches etc. It can take a year or more to prepare.

So, what’s not to like about the potlatch?

Apparently there was a lot not to like if you were a settler government that perceived such ceremonies and traditions as a threat to its hegemony, and committed to wiping out any elements of independent tribal identity and life. So in December 1921, in an event seared into Kwakwaka’wakw collective memory, the police raided a large potlatch, charged 45 people with offenses, jailed 20 and seized the community’s ceremonial regalia. This included highly valued ritual masks, other regalia and coppers (copper metal plaques that are symbols of wealth/power). The stolen artifacts were shipped to museums around the world.

Potlatches continued in secret but the lost treasures were never forgotten. Not until 1951 was the 19^th century anti-potlatch law finally repealed. At the same time community efforts to repatriate the lost objects picked up steam. This campaign was finally successful in 1979-1980 when the stolen objects were finally repatriated and put on display, half at the U’mista museum and half at another Kwakwaka’wakw museum.

Traditional Kwakwaka'wakw Big House where potlatches occur. Entry door is in center.

Namgis First Nation welcome sign at the ferry terminal in Alert Bay. Namgis is based in Alert Bay and is one of 13 tribal or band First Nations that are part of the Kwakwaka'wakw people.