Contemporary potlatches, which are often just called parties, are similar in many ways to those of the past, especially when it comes to patterns of gifting and feasting. But on another hand contemporary potlatches tend to be held to commemorate some significant event in extended family's or clan's collective life, such as a baby shower, wedding, or graduation (link). So potlatch's specific function of recognizing one's social status has shifted somehow to include wider social activities. Also, whereas before potlatches lasted over several days, today they tend to occur over a weekend so as to accommodate for work schedules (link).
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Post #3: Non-industrial economies in the 21st century
I've never heard of potlatch prior to deciding on the topic for this blog entry. Naturally finding out the history behind this Native North American gift-giving tradition proved rather fascinating. Having grown up in Western class-based society where material wealth is the defining element for hierarchical class arrangement it is somewhat strangely refreshing to learn of a culture where social status is actually maintained by giving away "most, if not all" of one's wealth (link). Consequently, this raises some interesting points about views on Property Relations of the Aboriginal tribal society of the past versus views of 19th century industrialized Canadian society and how such views led to potlach being banned in 1884. At the time, how could Federal government from its cultural perspective, valuing private property, agree with the indigenous peoples' "wasteful" custom of viewing one's property as collective property of the whole community (link)?
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I find it terribly sad, how unfairly the Aboriginals have been treated; a potlatch sounds like a great way of bringing together a community, and causes no harm to others, or to people of other cultures. It is well known that back then it was attempted to destroy the aboriginal culture, and the banning of potlatches back then is just another point of proof.
ReplyDeleteIndeed the potlatch would have seemed "wasteful", but mainly because its actual functions were not recognized. The potlatch served as an institution of redistribution or reciprocity (depending on the interpretation) that reduced economic difference while reinforcing social positions and obligations.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting point related to West Coast aboriginal culture is that trade with Europeans was largely responsible for the flourishing of the elaborate West Coast art tradition. I'm not sure, but it seems possible that the arrival of the Europeans might have actually had a similar effect on the potlatch, by intensifying the exchange and making it a bigger and bigger event.