Pottlatches And Giveaways

Potlatches are elaborate feasts and gift giving ceremonies of the Northwest Coast Amerindians. They are held during the winter and usually mark a rite of passage such as a funeral, wedding, or elevation to a noble title and for the distribution of wealth. From the viewpoint of the Northwest Coast people, potlatches sustain the reciprocal relationships among noble houses including their dependent families. Potlatches and giveaways share the ethos that giving a gift honours both the giver and recipient resulting in a long lasting friendship with exchanges that strengthen the relationship. If a dispute should arise, gifts are used to ameliorate friendships. In addition to its economic redistributive and kinship functions, the potlatch maintains community solidarity and hierarchical relations within and between individual bands and nations. In this respect, the potlatch does not simply mark or create ethnic boundaries but attempts to subvert them.
The Government failed to understand its symbolic importance as well as its communal economic exchange value.
The potlatch has survived a kaleidoscope of historical changes. It clearly serves a profound need in the human endeavour to understand who one is and consequently reveals the innate desire to create a long lasting relationship. I spoke to Maryam about this and she was of the opinion that potlatches played a vital role in creating and maintaining Indigenous