Acwsalcta Potlatch 2009

Last Thursday was the school's bi-annual potlatch.

A potlatch is a traditional West Coast Native celebration in which the host accumulates things, then has a big feast and celebration, which includes ceremonial dancing. At then end, they give everything away. The more you give away, the more honour and merit you accrue.

Traditionally, chiefs would give potlatches to ensure their power and prestige as chief. Nowadays, chiefs still give potlatches, though they are now generally given to honour deceased people,called a memorial potlatch. The giveaway is the most important part of the potlatch, and these days they give away everything from kitchen and household items, to silver jewelry, masks, and food.

Potlatches usually start with a feast, and there is often a second smaller meal in the early hours of the morning to keep everyone going til the end. The dancing can go on for many hours, and usually the giveaway can happen anywhere between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. last year there was a potlatch that didn't end until 7:00 a.m.!


Ths school potlatch started at the beginning of the year when all the kids started making gifts for the giveaway. My class made beaded necklaces, fridge magnets, and decorated picture frames.

Then, various committees were formed. I was on the cooking committee.

Our potlatch started with the feast: salmon, ham, turkey, potato salad, macaroni salad, fruit and jello. I was in charge of hot dogs and chips and had all the littel kids eating in my classroom. They generally don't like the food that the adults eat, but they love hot dogs and chips! I chopped up some fruit so they had something healthy to eat.


Following the feast was the dancing. Here are the kids dancing their first dance called "Little Dipper".


This is Tenysha dressed in her regalia.



Here are Anuxum and Leland telling the story of one of the dances. Anuxum is in grade 1, Leland in grade 2.



The kids are waiting for another dance to start.


Here they are doing the "Robin" circle dance.



After the little kids danced, the older kids performed a number of "mask" dances. Generally, you're not allowed to take pictures of these dances.


The giveaway was at the end. All the stuff was piled in the middle of the floor, and then the kids came and gave it all away to everyone sitting in the audience. The elders sit in the front seats, and generally they are given the best things. It was all rather chaotic. This potlatch ensures the continued honour of our school, and the continuation of the Nuxalk culture.