These are the conclusions of an Indian Agent, William Halliday, on the potlatch gatherings of the First Nation tribes of the NW American coasts ("First Nation" is Canadian, "Native American" is the US equivalent). Potlatchs were the backbone of First Nation culture. Paraphrasing a modern FN woman, they were where disagreements were resolved, children were named, tribal leadership was confirmed, marriages celebrated, goods of all sorts shared out, the old stories retold and the tribal dances performed in fabulous costumes. The reference to "waste their substance" reflects the the gift culture of the FNs. At potlatches the wealthy gave stuff away. In the wonderful Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia are any number of fantastic things, among which are carved structures like short canoes with wheels. These would be filled with goods for people at a potlach to take and/or eat. In one example, several are joined like into a train at the front of which is an elaborately carved fish head from whose mouth a giant spoon extends for extra goodies. The potlatch gives birth to the hostess trolly!
William Halliday's report was written in 1918, when large parts of the world had just lost four years in war, wasted the substance of millions, spread disease on a global scale (Spanish Flu began in an army base and killed at least 3% of the world's population).
European settlers did their best to wipe out potlatchs and impose Western assumptions about work and ownership. And now, writing about modern life almost always seems to bemoan the "loss of community".
Every blog is allowed one rant. This was mine. Now some pictures.
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| Scary totem - most are more friendly |
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| Some sort of birdy thing |
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| Salish Rugs - Woven from wild goat hair, woolly dogs' hair and feathers. |
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