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Potlatch Means to Give

Film: Barbara Cranmer, UCC

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Close-up view of a transformation mask, carved from cedar and brightly decorated, shown in the open position.

My people, the Kwakwaka'wakw, have been guided by our ancestors. Our stories of origin are based on our first ancestors. Ceremonial masks tell of our beginning and share our identity and where we come from.

Image of a Kwakwaka’wakw dancer at a potlatch wearing ceremonial regalia consisting of a button blanket, carved and decorated frontlet.

When one's heart is glad, he gives away gifts. It was given to us by our creator, our way of doing things, of who we are. The potlatch was given to us as a way of expressing joy. Everyone on Earth is given something. This was given to us.

Image shows a group of Kwakwaka’wakw taking part in a mourning ceremony during a Potlatch, front row of elders in button blankets.

Today, most potlatches are held as memorials for loved ones. Mourning songs are sung to shake off the sadness, wipe away tears, and set the spirit free.

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Why We Potlatch

Film: Barbara Cranmer

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Image shows Chief Bill Cranmer of ‘Namgis First Nation speaking in a forest setting, wearing a jacket decorated with Kwakwaka’wakw imagery.

Potlatch, as our people practice it, was a way of passing down our history, of keeping our history alive.

Historical sepia-tone photo by Edward S. Curtis shows a Kwakwaka’wakw youth in profile.

When a Chief wanted to name a child, he invited people to witness and the history of that name would be told to the guests. If there was an Indian marriage, property and rights were transferred from the wife to the husband. There were probably a number of reasons why the people of the day wanted to stop our potlatches, and I believe it was partly due to misunderstanding - they didn't understand what our ceremonies were all about.

Historical black and white photograph showing a group of Kwakwaka’wakw adults standing among gifts gathered in preparation for a potlatch in Alert Bay.

The other thing was they just thought they were better than us - we had no structure as a society, which was wrong - we did have a structure, which was the potlatch, our method of handing down our history.

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T´łi’na

T´łi’na or grease made from oolichan fish has been a highly-valued gift at potlatches for hundreds of years. The gift of t´łi’na is the highest honour a chief can bestow on his guests. At a t´łi’nagila, or grease potlatch, a host will throw t´łi’na on the fire to show his wealth.

Film: Barbara Cranmer

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Impact of the Potlatch Ban on our People

Film: Barbara Cranmer

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Photograph shows Kwakwaka’wakw speaker Vera Newman of the ‘Namgis First Nations standing in a forest setting.

"There was definitely a dark time for our people. And that's only in the 20s, the 1920s. They weren't allowed to practice their customs... Potlatch isn't just Indian dancing and singing... Potlatch is a way of life. So when they took that away from our people, it was breaking down a whole system. And it was a very difficult time for our people because they lived in fear."

Kwakwaka’wakw elder is seated on a high-back stuffed chair as she speaks to the camera.

"They used to sneak around to practice our culture, that is why some of our people never forgot our ways. For years nothing happened here in Alert Bay because people were terrified because they might get put in jail."

Image shows Chief Bill Cranmer of ‘Namgis First Nation speaking in a forest setting, wearing a jacket decorated with Kwakwaka’wakw imagery.

"People were arrested for handing out gifts, for making speeches, and for dancing... or anything to do, helping, in the potlatch. Part of the agreement by the ‘Namgis and some other tribes, was to give up their masks and other things they used at a potlatch so that their members wouldn't be sent to jail."

Photograph shows Kwakwaka’wakw elder Vera Newman of the ‘Namgis First Nations speaking in a forest setting.

"When they were brought to Oakalla Prison in 1922, was humiliating and degrading for our people. Granny talks about the only reason she wasn't sent to jail was because my mum was six months old, but her older sister went to jail. And when she got down there, they stripped them and hosed them down, like there was something wrong with them. They didn't treat our people very good."

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How Gwa’nalalis Became a River

Film: Barbara Cranmer, UCC

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Aerial photograph of the Nimpkish River with forest in the background.

The most important part of our identity and who we are as ‘Namgis is established by our first ancestors' story and places us directly at our Gwa'ni River.

Photograph of a forest setting in which the camera aims upward to the sky and tree tops.

When the Transformer, K´aniki’lakw, travelled around the world, he eventually returned to the place where Gwa'nalalis lived.

Photograph of a mountain range with traces of snow near the peaks and a band of forest in the foreground.

K´aniki’lakw asked, "Would you like to become a cedar tree?" Gwa'nalalis replied, "No. Cedar trees, when struck by lightning, split and fall. Then they rot away for as long as the days shall dawn in the world." K´aniki’lakw asked again, "Would you like to become a mountain?" "No," Gwa'nalalis answered. "For mountains have slides and crumble away for as long as the days shall dawn in the world."

Photograph of a backlit mountain top set against a bright cloudless sky.

The Transformer asked a third question, "Would you like to become a large boulder?" "No, do not let me become a boulder, for I may crack in half and crumble away for as long as the days shall dawn in the world." "Finally, K´aniki’lakw asked, "Would you like to become a river?"

Aerial perspective photograph of the Nimpkish River show in the center of the image with forest on both sides.

"Yes, let me become a river, that I may flow for as long as the days shall dawn in the world," Gwa'nalalis replied. Putting his hand on Gwa'nalalis' forehead, and pushing down prone, K´aniki’lakw said, "There, friend. You will be a river and many kinds of salmon will come to you to provide food for your descendants, for as long as the days shall dawn in the world." And so, the man Gwa'nalalis became the river, Gwa'ni.

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Origin story of the ‘Namgis people

Film: Barb Cranmer, UCC

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Image shows a roof section of the Alert Bay Bighouse, consisting of cedar beams and a cross-pole on which a Sisiyutł figure is carved and painted.

For our people, the 'Namgis, we originated from the Nimpkish River, or Gwa'ni, as we call it. Where 'Namxiyalagiyu, a halibut-like monster came ashore at the mouth of the river. He transformed himself to a man named 'Namukustolis. 'Namukustolis wanted to build himself a big house, but was unable to lift the huge house posts by himself. He saw a Thunderbird sitting on a rock, and wished the Thunderbird would help him. The Thunderbird said, "Yes, I will help." And he flew up to lift the house posts into place with his talons. The name 'Namgis comes from the name of the creature, 'Namxiyalagiyu, who became the man, 'Namukustolis. These origins affirm that our people have been here from the beginning.

Lesson 1

Potlatch Means to Give

Why We Potlatch

T´łi’na

Impact of the Potlatch Ban on our People

How Gwa’nalalis Became a River

Origin story of the ‘Namgis people

Lesson 1