 |
       |
|
|
| Tlingit
Potlatches
|
|
 A sample of the regalia worn during a potlatch. |
Traditional Tlingit potlatches were the culmination of a series of funeral rituals and ceremonies. Custom dictated a wake, cremation, and post cremation feasts. All ceremonies, including the finale--the potlatch feast--served to strengthen the alliance between the clan of the deceased and the moiety opposites (i.e. the living spouse's lineage). The opposites were in charge of several funerary rituals including preparation of the body and final cremation. If the deceased was a high ranking individual, it was customary for the moiety opposites to tear down then rebuild his home for his descendants, or at a minimum, to refurbish the existing house. Ultimately the potlatch was given ostensibly to honor the deceased, but it also provided the opportunity to repay the moiety opposites for their part in the funeral service. The guest
list for a major potlatch would include the lineage and related lineage
of the deceased, the widow's lineage (assuming the male of the household
died), and guest clans, usually from another village. Guests and hosts
alike turned out in Tlingit regalia for what usually amounted to several
days of potlatching. Elegantly prepared food was served and entertainment
included singing, dancing, and eating
contests. One story goes that, upon rebuilding the famous Whale House
in Klukwan, a potlatch was hosted with visiting clans from Wrangell
and Sitka in attendance. An eating contest was held between equal numbers
of men from each visiting clan. The Wrangell team ate from a hollowed
out log, while the Sitka group tackled a full large basket called the
"mother of baskets." The Wrangell team was victorious, but
only through trickery. During the excitement they concealed large scoops
of food under nearby platforms. A more serious episode is chronicled
in which an eating contest participant was unintentionally killed when
he was served cranberries, dried hemlock bark and oil. After downing
it all, he asked for a drink of water which, unfortunately, caused the
bark to swell and his stomach to burst. The host had to pay the victim's
clan several slaves in compensation.
Several
early potlatch traditions have carried through to modern times. One
year after the death of a Tlingit, family members may elect to host
a potlatch in that person's honor. Following a solemn beginning of memorial
songs and speeches, the potlatching gets underway. As in the old days,
favorite foods of the deceased are served, and also given as gifts for
guests to take home. Other gifts include the customary giving of blankets
(commercial, today), and money to those who helped with the services
(still moiety opposites). Dancing and singing continue to be major potlatch
activities. People may travel from neighboring towns for the ceremony. |
|
For further
information on Tlingit Culture please view the following links: Barbara
Waterbury, 1987
(c) Sheldon Museum & Cultural Center, Inc. Box 269 Haines, AK 99827 1(907) 766-2366 All rights reserved. No part of this webpage may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the Sheldon Museum & Cultural Center. This webpage may be printed only for personal or classroom use.
[Home]
[General Information ] [Special
Events] [Collections & Exhibits]
|
