POTLATCH




March 12, 2010

Nunam Iqua, Alaska



The villagers have been practicing for weeks. The children have wandered into school all morning long, each day, as they have been up late with their families getting ready for this traditional event. The villagers from nearby Scammon Bay were the invited guests, but as soon as I sat down, a woman from Mountain Village started talking to me. She must have seen me the day I was there!

A little internet research this week gave me some insights. Literally, it means “giving.” Many, especially the Pacific Northwest, tribes celebrate this tradition. It was held as a public distribution of property. Chiefs often tried to outdo each other, with destruction of property sometimes the result. They were outlawed in the 1890’s, though they continued. The law was rescinded in 1951. Today, as in years ago, the gifts given by the host families are modern day versions of tools, housewares, and food. Traditionally, it was a feasting time as well. Today, the families have the feasts in their homes with their closest families and gather together in the Tribal Center for the dancing and gift-giving.

Walking home from school it was apparent something was going on! The traffic was pretty intense. Its very hard to hear, even the snow machines, with hat, wimple, hood, all covering my ears. Visibility is very limited with all of that, and the fact that I either take my glasses off, or they are so fogged I can’t see. By the time a group of teachers got to the hall about 7:15, the building was surrounded with snow machines, as they are called here, the hall was packed, and the dancing was going full force!

While we were there (until about 11:00pm), about 4 families had their giveaway ceremony and dance. In many cases it was a child’s first dance. In the case of the little girl, she is dressed in traditional clothing, standing on a special fur rug, holding out her dance fans. Each and every item brought by the family first touches her dance fans and is then distributed to the crowd. No doubt, the more special gifts go to the people most honored by the child and her family. Some of those items were fish traps, ice fishing scrapers, and fishing lines, atayls (sp), harpoons, and many other hand-made items. Also given were snow shovels, knitted items, hats, socks, quilts, kusbuks (the traditional dresses/shirts…have another name). Additionally, dish towels, dish cloths, plastic tubs, bungee cords, plastic containers, soap, bags of candy and, of course, the children’s favorite…aguduk….Eskimo ice cream! It is made with Crisco, sugar, fish, and berries. Not too bad, tho, my face makes me look like it is awful….just eating.

It was going full force when we left and expected to continue until 1 or so. Not sure what is happening tomorrow, but more dancing is expected tomorrow evening. The room was packed….200 people??? There were an amazing number of machines parked all around. People rode them from other villages 20 and 30 miles away. The ceremonies were in Yup’ik, so not really sure who was being honored for what. The woman I was talking to had a son there. He had shot his first beaver this year. She was a fairly young woman, but pointed out her 86 year old mom. When I asked her questions, she said I really would need to talk to her mom and dad….They are the family in purple. She just got a job in MV as a Teaching Assistant to a special needs student. I’m not sure I got her name. Hope to run into her again as I have some nice pics of her family. Her daughter fell on the benches and had to be taken to the clinic so the Mom missed some of the ceremony she was there for! I saw her on the way out and the girl was ok, but no time to talk and be sure I had her name. Hope to see her tomorrow.

It is now Sunday afternoon. Never made it back to the Potlatch. Guess the cold everyone seems to have finally caught up to me. Mostly slept all day yesterday. Have been puttering around today. Still no refrigerator! Don’t feel like dragging my laundry across the walk, so just hanging low. Finished my jigsaw puzzle. Think the time has changed. Will have to check before morning. May print some pics for the students….if I get ambitious. All for now. Will try to post this at school tomorrow. Love to all.