Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Party like the Kwakwaka'wakw

I just finished my paper about potlatches, a leveling mechanism practiced among American Indians in the Pacific Northwestern region of the United States and Canada. Potlatches are lavish parties thrown often in the winter by a tribe that has amassed a surplus of food, furs, weaponz, fish oil, and other valuables for a neighboring clan experincing a shortage. The potlatch includes a slammin' feast, dances, songs, totem poles, tattooing of the privledged children in the clan, boastful speeches by the chief about how he's the shit, gift giving, and sometimes if they're feeling really wild, they'll pour fish oil into the fire and destroy other shit.

A friend suggested burnin up a one dolla bill recentley and it sounds like fun.

Some rich folk should srrrsly throw my clan a potlatch. I'll settle for a potluck with my fellow clan members though.






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