U'mista Cultural Society | Potlatch Videos | Living Tradition, The Kwakwaka'wakw Potlatch on the Northwest Coast

Bak´was, Wildman-of-the-Woods dance

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A potlatch scene where Wildman of the woods is hiding behind a pink blanket surrounded by four men.

Four men unwrap a large pink blanket to reveal the performer from the woods hunched down low, and still dressed in the costume that covers his entire body in fur-like hair, moss and tree branches. His face is covered in a ceremonial mask with long dark hair. The men encourage him and he slowly begins to straighten and stand as if lured by the drumbeat and the men’s encouragement.

Wildman of the woods covered with fur, moss and branches, his hand held over his face, concealing it from view.

Keeping his masked face lowered, he moves slowly and deliberately as if taking in his surroundings. A man shakes a rattle to lure him forward. He touches the sand covered floor and inhales the scent, then looks around as if continuing to explore his new environment.

Nan, Grizzly Bear dance

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A man standing with legs apart and hands held high, wearing potlatch regalia of a sarong and headdress-style mask.

A shirtless man wears a decorated sarong and a headdress-style mask with an animal pelt attached. He moves around the performers circle, making slow deliberate squats. Another man follows behind him, shaking a rattle.

A small black bear faces the camera while standing on the shore foraging for food.

Film footage shows a small black bear along the shore foraging for food. Small fish jump in the nearby water, catching its attention.

Shirtless man wearing a headdress-style mask stands in profile before a dance curtain and points to the right.

Inside, the man begins to dance.

Sap´a, Echo dance

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A black bear stands in the woods. The bear appears to be foraging for food in a setting of twigs, ferns and undergrowth.

Film footage: A black bear wanders though the woods.

A potlatch dancer wears a ceremonial mask and black cape, his arms stretch to the right. Behind him sit a number of people.

In the bighouse, a man wears a ceremonial mask carved to resemble a bear. Shirtless, he wears a black sarong and cape. Fur is attached to the top of the mask and extends down his back as he dances for the group.

A black bear is turning over a rock on a beach in a search for food.

Outside, the bear forages along a shoreline, overturning rocks. Inside, the performer digs into the sand floor, mimicking the bear’s movements.

A potlatch dancer wearing a bird mask and black cape crouches and hops along the dirt floor of the big house.

Now the performer is shielded by blankets, then emerges wearing a bird mask and hops along the ground.

A raven in flight with wings stretched out appears against a slightly cloudy blue sky background.

Outside a raven flies across the sky.

A carved cedar log drum dominates the image. Three wooden sticks strike the drum.

Drummers use thick wooden sticks and keep the beat on a long, bark-less log laid along the floor.

A potlatch dancer moves through the forest, his face and body covered by dance costume.

In nature, a man wears another mask, his body is covered in moss, branches and hair; he dances among the trees.

Gwa'yam, Whale dance

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A red and green button blanket appears to the left of a brightly painted whale mask with pectoral fins open.

Another performance begins. The dancer wears a large hat-style carving in the shape of a whale, painted in black, white, red and green.

The dorsal fins of a large and a small killer whale break the surface of the ocean, behind which a forested shoreline appears.

Film footage: killer whales swim in the ocean, their dorsal fins above the water line. Water spurts through their blowholes, then they submerge; only their flukes protrude above the water. They move gracefully through the water, submerging and re-emerging as they play… Inside the dancer moves as if he is a whale in the water.

Dance assistants surround a whale mask, eagle down resembling water is blown from a spout into the air.

Eagle down spews out of a hole in the mask, simulating water through the blowhole.

Hamsamala, Man-eating Birds' Dance

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A masked dancer in ceremonial regalia moves quickly through a shaded forest.

In a forested area a First Nations man wears a large and elaborate ceremonial mask. It’s carved from wood into a bird’s head with a long beak, and painted black, white and deep red. Straw and feathers create the illusion of plumage.

Smoke rises above a burning fire pit in the big house. Around the fire a group of dancers and behind them the audience.

Now inside the high-ceiling, wood frame ‘bighouse’, a First Nations group is gathered. In the center of a circle four men sit around a roaring fire, each with an elaborate ceremonial animal mask. They rise and march around the fire moving as if inhabiting the animal totem itself. The mouths of the masks open and shut.

A masked figure appears in the center of this image, facing to the right in a shaded forest setting.

Now back in nature, the man in the bird mask moves through the woods.

Peace Dance

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A group of dancers perform in woven ceremonial regalia to the right of a fire pit in the big house.

In the bighouse, three shirtless men wear ceremonial dress: knee length skirts with adorned shins, and capes resembling embroidered blankets - cream colored with designs and long tasseled edges. Each wears a fabric headdress and shakes a rattle as they dance around the fire.

A dancer wears a brightly decorated and detailed transformation mask in the open position.

Another performer approaches slowly, wrapped in a cape and wearing a full-face mask with hair. Shown in slow motion the man turns around and the mask is now folded open to reveal another masks behind it.

Three dancers in ceremonial regalia move around a fire at a potlatch in the big house.

Men in ceremonial dress have joined the others around the fire to dance.

Undersea Kingdom dance

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Flames, smoke and glowing ashes appear at the left of the image with a dramatically lit masked dancer at the right.

The bighouse is dark; the fire roars in the center of the room. Performers wear intimidating masks in a variety of shapes and sizes, many adored with feathers, hair or fur. The performers wear capes in blacks and deep reds, decorated with buttons, beads and embroidery. Shown in slow motion, they worship the fire and move as if inhabiting the animal totems they wear.

West-coast Wolf dancer

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A dancer wearing a wooden hat-like mask appears with her back to the camera, two other women in red capes face the camera.

Women wear carved wooden hat-like masks; flat with animal faces on the side and filled with straw like a barge. Over top of their clothing, their torsos are wrapped in red fabric. A man follows behind each woman, unraveling the red fabric as they dance around the fire. Four elder women stand in witness, wearing red capes; two wear headdresses.

Potlatch to Give

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A snow-covered mountain range with an eagle flying overhead. There is a band of blue sky above the mountain peaks.

[Chirping]

[Drumming]

Chief Cranmer wears a ceremonial frontlet, cedar bark ring and a Chilkat blanket amidst a group of potlatchers all in regalia.

[Chanting]

[Man speaking in Kwak´wala]

A group of masked dancers appear from behind a dance screen, their bodies entirely covered with Cedar bark garments.

[Drumming]

[Thundering]

[Drumming]

A dark stormy sky with 3 bolts of lightning emerging from the clouds.

[Thundering]

A group of participants at a potlatch in the big house, behind them stands a pair of impressive large totem poles.

[Chanting and singing]

[Chanting and drumming]

[Thundering]

A close-up to the head of a dancer, his face is darkened with ash and he appears to be shouting, cedar bark adorns his hair.

[Yelling and singing]

[Yelling]

[Singing]

A group of dancers move in circles around the dirt floor at the center of the big house, they are surrounded by audience.

[Drumming]

[Chanting and drumming]

[Drumming]

[Cawing]

[Chanting]

[Singing and drumming]

[Drumming]

[Chanting]

[Singing]

[Drumming]

[Singing]

[Drumming]

[Singing]

[Drumming]

[Chanting]

A young boy stands to the left facing a row of adults on the right of the image.

[Yelling]

A Kwakwaka’wakw women in ceremonial regalia is cradling a baby who also is dressed in ceremonial regalia.

[Chanting]

[Cheering]

[Singing]

Guests at a ceremony, gentleman in foreground at left of image holds his hands forward with palms up.

[Singing]

[Crackling]

[Singing]

[Drumming]

[Chanting]

[Drumming and singing]

[Drumming]

[Singing]

A young Kwakwaka’wakw man dressed in ceremonial regalia holding aloft a copper, behind him stands Chief Cranmer.

[Man speaking in Kwak´wala]

A large Kwakwaka’wakw canoe is moving diagonally across the screen over calm waters against a forested and mountainous background.

[Singing]

Potlatch to Give

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A very bright sunlight against a dark shadowy cedar forest.

♪♪♪

A masked dancer from the shoulders up, his shoulders are covered with cedar bark cape as he looks towards the camera.

[Singing]

[Cheering]

A bank of white clouds in the foreground, behind that a landscape of forested mountains

NARRATOR: In the beginning, our people emerged from mystical and supernatural places.

A large Kwakwaka’wakw canoe moves from right to left across the center over calm waters before a hilly forest shoreline.

My people, the Kwakwaka'wakw, had been guided by our ancestors.

The front part of a brightly painted whale mask appears to dive in a downward diagonal from right to left.

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.

[Drumming]

A group of Kwakwaka’wakw men are standing or seated in front of a large stack of flour sacks and boxes that have been gathered to present at a potlatch.

NARRATOR: 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.

Kwakwaka’wakw women in traditional dress sit on the ground next to food containers used in preparing food for a potlatch

The Potlatch was given to us as a way of expressing joy. Everyone on Earth is given something. This was given to us.

[Drumming]

NARRATOR: We acknowledge every aspect of our lives through ritual and ceremony.

Chief Cranmer wears a ceremonial frontlet, cedar bark ring and a Chilkat blanket amidst a group of potlatchers all in regalia.

We have a continuous connection to everything. We express our connections in many different ways, giving thanks, feasting and gift giving.

[Chanting]

[Speaking in Kwak´wala]

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

[Drumming and singing]

NARRATOR: 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.

Two birds are flying against a large white cloud in the sky.

[Chirping]

Front of the Big House in Alert Bay showing a brightly painted wall.

[Chanting]

NARRATOR: When you enter the Big House, everything changes.

The back of a dancer wearing an embroidered tunic next to a fire pit in the big house.

In the winter months, we connect with our ancestral spirits and share in our Potlatch.A Chief and his family host the sacred ceremonies, passing on the dances, names and songs from their box of treasures. This ceremony is based on honour and respect.

Today we have two parts to the Potlatch. In the T´seka Ceremony, you enter the floor counterclockwise, which represents entering the spirit world.

A close-up to the head of a dancer, his face is darkened with ash, cedar bark adorns his hair.

[Yelling]

[Singing]

[Yelling]

[Drumming]

[Singing]

[Drumming]

[Singing]

[Drumming]

[Snapping]

[Cawing]

[Chanting]

Salmon swimming in the ocean about to be caught in a fisherman’s net.

NARRATOR: Feasting is an important part of the ceremonies. Guests are fed the rich resources of the sea, salmon, clams, crabs and halibut.

A group of Kwakwaka’wakw adults standing among gifts gathered in preparation for a potlatch in Alert Bay.

The giving away of one's wealth was essential to our Potlatch.

Potlach celebrants in regalia carry a large carved cedar container of eulachon oil into the big house.

Tli'nagila is a very important ceremony that has continued for many generations. The giving of eulachon oil we call tli'nagila is the highest honour a Chief can bestow on his guests.

[Drumming]

[Singing]

A group of dancers perform in woven ceremonial regalia to the right of a fire pit in the big house.

NARRATOR: The second part of the Potlatch is the Tla'sala or Peace Dances.

[Chanting]

After each Peace Dance, a gift comes in the front door.

[Chanting]

[Drumming]

[Chanting]

A group of people move in circles around the dirt floor at the center of the big house, they are surrounded by a large audience.

[Cheering]

[Drumming]

NARRATOR: Today we continue to celebrate who we are.

Image alt tag: A large Kwakwaka’wakw canoe is moving diagonally across the screen over calm waters against a forested and mountainous background.

There is strength in our culture. We are a living culture.

[Drumming]

[Chanting]

[Cheering]

[Drumming]