Potlatching in Alert Bay - this week's North Island historical photo

In 1884 the Government of Canada introduced an amendment to the Indian Act which made participation in the Potlatch ceremony illegal. These large gatherings were an integral part of coastal Indigenous culture, and played an important role in the social system of local communities. Indian Agent William May Halliday felt that many of the practices associated with the potlatch, like the giving away of large quantities of goods, were irresponsible. In 1913 he made the first attempts to arrest people involved in Potlatching. Related governmental efforts resulted in the confiscation of many ceremonial items. This photo, taken in Alert Bay in 1912, shows the scale of a large potlatch at the time. Traditional practices were merging with the access to trade goods, and items such as blankets, flour, and kitchen goods can be seen in the photograph, ready for distribution to guests. The U'mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay is now home to many items which have now been reclaimed. Visit the U'mista website for more information: https://www.umista.ca/