Potlatch

1. Never an individual endeavor, host explains to relatives the purpose of potlatch

1.1. Extended family always helped

1.2. Kin groups

2. The planning can take up to several weeks, months or years

2.1. People are delegated to travel to guests houses to formally invite them

2.1.1. This is an important part of custom and protocol

3. Resources and food are drawn from relatives

4. Potlatches are crucial to many cultures

4.1. A type of bank, life insurance and pension fund

4.2. managing resources in a territory

4.3. strengthening bonod between kin groups

5. Always initiated for a specific purpose

5.1. To mark an essential milestone in life

5.2. First kill

5.3. Marriage

5.4. Completion of a canoe

6. Based on the idea of giving

6.1. The work Potlatch comes from the Nuu-chah-nulth word "to give"

6.2. Food, humour and culture is shared

7. Potlatches have a specific order of events

7.1. 1. always begins with an opening ceremony

7.2. 2. followed by a feast where foods from hosts territories is shared

7.3. 3. Dances, songs and oral stories and performed. speeches tell of the purpose of potlatch.

7.4. 4. wealth of family is given away to guest to acknowledge validity of event.

7.4.1. Furs, blankets and resources