Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-11-07
THE POTLACH.
A Feast Celebrated by Indians in
British Columbia

The Canadian Government have been
advised that great preparations are beng
made among the Indian tribes of British
Columbia for the largest "Potlach'' or
"Give Away Feast" that has ever been
held on the Pacific Coast, which is to
come off on the northern extremity OF
Vancouver Island, near Fort Rupert, ON
Christmas Day. The Potlach will be
given by Capt. Jim, an aged Indian
chief, known from one end of the pro-
vince to the other. The articles to be
lent comprise 5000 blankets, 500 pairs
OF silver bracelets Qndian make, forty
large canoes, and muck a-mucll galore,
III all valued at $4,000 For this $1U,-
900 Capt. jim, according to native Gus
tom, will receive within two years S2C,
600. The potach will embrace nineteen
tribes residing between Qualicuin and
Fort Rupert.
This will make the one hundredth
potlach Capt. lin has given, and he
now intends to eclipse all former efforts
in that line. The centurion hero of the
potlach is about 65 years of age, of fine
physique, and speaks English with re-
markable tiUency. In his last annual
report the Superintendent General of
Indian Affairs ca Is attention to the
wretched hea.hen fcasr, as he cal s the
po ZACH, which is entailing great loss of
properly and time among the Indians Of
the Pacific coast, and Which, he believes,
is nj the root of all the vices amo ng
them, the older members of the tribes
taking the opportunity at these gather
ings to intimidate the younger ones who
show any desire for reformation. In
commenting upon these gatherings the
superintendent General says:
"The older members of the various
bands are strongly welded to the cele-
bration of the hcathen feast known as
the Potlaeh, and to indulging in a
medicine dance. which is designated
'Tamanawas As these feasts and
dances are prohibited By the law and
the celebration of them is dec ared to
be IN sdemeanor, It is hoped that the
visiting superintendent for the Province
and the local agent will adopt early and
vigorous measures to cause the law in
this respect to be enforced i'll the case
of vloators of the same in this agency,
and that similar steps will be taken in
other places where the law is VIC a ed
by the celebration of these prohibited
heathenish ceremonies.
In regard to the pot ach, there are
tokens thai it must soon undergo n
marked change or gradually die out.
The reason for this is that of late years
blankets have so de2rc ciated in value
that few if any new b ankets are bought,
as the purchase entails q loss. New
blankets cannot be purchased for less
than SEQ n pair, and theY are only
worth $1.50 among themselves conse-
quently they are becoming very scarce,
and money is gradually taking their
pla'e. While visiting the Mn-na-lil-
li-kulia tribe recently it was fore bly,
impressed upon mo, as small pieces of
stick We're often given in lien of blan-
kets, to be redeemed as soon as the man
was able. l also saw good deal of
silver given away, perhaps MS much as
$500 or $4oo, at potach thas took pla C
while was there"
The advices received from British
Columbia would not appear to indicate
that the II gerintendent-Ge eneral's hopes
are to be realized f Capt. Jim succeeds
in eyaling Government interference in
carrying out tie great potlach he has
arranged for Christmas.