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The potlatch and the feast are the two most important events that occur in 'Namgis society. Both events revolve around the act of giving gifts, which was central to almost all aspects of social, political and economic life. By giving, the members of a 'na'mima, meaning "one kind" - an extended family unit, demonstrated their obligations and gratitude to the plants, animals, birds and fish in return for giving themselves up for human use. Potlatches and feasts are also where marriages and births are announced and celebrated and where deaths are mourned. By giving at these ceremonies the members of the 'na'mima also demonstrate their rights to certain ranks and accompanying privileges and property. Among the 'Namgis and other Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwak'wala speaking) Nations there are two categories of property: there is the territorial property owned by the 'na'mima and then there is ceremonial property. At the head of a 'na'mima is the Chief who holds 'na'mima property and who organizes his 'na'mima to host potlatches and feasts. |
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Under the authority and direction of their Chief, the members of a 'na'mima have rights to hunting and trapping grounds, fishing stations and plant gathering sites- the traditional territory. This territory was given to the 'na'mimas' founding ancestor at the beginning of time. Rights to this property cannot be given in potlatches or feasts, although individuals outside the 'na'mima were sometimes granted the privilege of harvesting resources within 'na'mima territory. Ceremonial property includes such things as masks, dances, names, feast dishes, canoes, coppers and privileges to perform certain ritual acts as well as a great variety of other things. This property can be given and by giving a person shows he is a moral person. |
Gwa'ni |
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At potlatches and feasts, which were hosted in a Chiefs' Big House, guests witnessed the inheritance of, and validated claims to, certain ranks and their accompanying privileges and property. In 'Namgis society, and among other Kwakwaka'wakw peoples, rank, privileges, and property are all represented in the eternal names of the ancestors. These names provide the social identity for a 'Namgis individual in that the individual who holds a particular name has the same rank, rights and responsibilities that "every holder of that name has had since the beginning of time, when the name was first created by the spirits." It also defined this person in relation to others in and outside the 'na'mima. |
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Chiefly names not only identified their holders with certain rights and responsibilities but also with the ownership of particular geographic locations. These names were always given to the Chief's oldest heir who gave it to his or her oldest offspring and so on down the line. In addition, it was at these events that legal and political disputes between different 'na'mima as well as between different tribes were settled. These events have been described as "Rivalry Potlatches". |
The Big House Alert Bay, B.C. |
| Historically, therefore, potlatches and feasts, were central to the Kwakwaka'wakw system of governance. With colonization, the ensuing settlement of the province and the paternalistic ideology of early Government policy makers, it was decided that the potlatch and other aboriginal ceremonies stood in the way of civilizing the "Indian" and this resulted in the "Potlatch Prohibition." In spite of the efforts of Government agents to end these ceremonies, potlatching continues today. | |
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