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Potlatch

© Elizabeth Nordhausen

The word potlatch means "to give." But distinctive to the Native Americans from Northwest United States up to Alaska, the world potlatch encompasses the ceremony of potlatch and the traditions and spirituality which comprise a potlatch. Some tribes in which potlatches are held are the Tlingit, Tsimshian, Bella Coola, Haida and Kwakuiti.

The potlatch is an occasion in which a host would invite guests to a huge feast and to distribute gifts to them. The ceremonies could last for days and include dancing, eating and Native American rituals. Hosts would proudly show family masks, crests and heirlooms. Each different tribe has their own pretexts for holding a potlatch. But, in general, potlatches are held during important life events, such as a funeral, when a child is named, marriage and when heirs are chosen. Potlatches held in winter celebrated spirits returning to their "spiritual home" after roaming the earth during summer.

In return for giving away most of his possessions, the host could expect his ranking and status in the tribe to increase. According to Encyclopedia.com at http://www.encyclopedia.com/searchpool.a... , guests attending the potlatch would hold their own potlatch and were expected to do so at a future date with similar or better gifts. It's a "tit for tat" philosophy.

In the past, gifts given during a potlatch would have been Native American blankets, canoes and jewelry. Today, potlatches are still held, but gifts are more modern and are mostly practical household gifts. The host could go bankrupt holding a potlatch. But one has to appreciate the culture of these tribes, in which showing their generosity to others and establishing status is more important than their possessions.

In the 19th century, the settlers in Canada and the United States did not see it as a show of generosity. The white man and missionaries were at that time attempting to "civilize" the Native Americans and to convert them to Christianity. The potlatch which was so engrained in the Northwest Indian culture was seen as an obstacle to the white man's goals. And at the same time, other cultures did not understand how someone could give away all his possessions.

Eventually, the Canadian and United States governments banned potlatches and confiscated many of the possessions which were to be given, especially the copper. It wasn't until 1951 when the ban was lifted. Until then, potlatches were held in secret.

I feel humbled to write a piece on potlatch and am afraid that the potlatch means so much more to the Native American than what I've portrayed it as. It's a type of economy where surplus wealth is distributed among the tribe and also an investment in which the host of the potlatch could expect substantial gifts in the future from his guests. The potlatch is also a political system where rank and status of the tribal members are decided. Disputes were also settled peacefully with the potlatch. Please see some of the sites which I have recommended below which will give you more an idea about what the potlatch means to the Native Americans.

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