Potlatch

Potlatch (in the Chinook language means “to give”) is a ritual destruction and giving away of possessions typical of the native population of the North-West coast of North America. Potlatch could be of secular character, but sometimes it was timed to the winter festivals of the spirits “visiting” people. Indian aristocrats came to a potlatch that was organized dozens of km away. Due to such contacts the same artistic style spread along the whole coast from south Alaska to Vancouver Island. 

Participants of a potlatch were divided in two groups: one consisted of the relatives of the potlatch organizer, the other – from his in-laws, i.e. representatives of his wife’s clan. According to rules, members of each group stayed together and occupied a strictly fixed place. In the end of the 19th century American ethnographer Franz Boas described slaves throwing unique objects made of native copper into fire in front of spectators and chopped boats and poured oil made of candle-fish fat into the fire. If the participants of the potlatch and guests who received presents accepted the refreshments and participated in the feast, this meant that they acknowledge the social statues that the host pretends to. If there turned out to be a rival among the visitors, destruction and giving away valuables had competitive character. The person who proved to be most generous enjoyed highest prestige and authority.

Woman in ritual costume. Canada, Vancouver. The Kwakiutl. Yu. P. Averkieva. 1930