U’mista Cultural Society and the Kwakwaka’wakw

Published in Ciao

The Kwakwaka’wakw also known as the Kwatiutl is a native, indigenous people found on the mainland and Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. The Kwakwaka’wakw Nation numbers at about 5, 500 people. The U’Mista Cultural society is a center that is dedicated to preserving their culture and heritage.

To be honest I had never heard of this tribal nation before, the name reminds me of the Mexican and Aztec names that most of us are more familiar with. The native language of this tribe is Kwakwala and it is sad to say that it is now spoken by only about 5 percent of its people, (250 people). It is no doubt a concern for the U’Mista Cultural society to preserve the culture before it too perishes like so many so others that have gone down that road before.

The Kwakwaka’wakw are divided into 17 different tribes The Kwakwaka’wakw society were historically divided into three levels of society, the nobles, commoners, and slaves. Kwatiutl’s main source of income is fishing. Like ancient peoples, the Kwatiutl still practice some hunting and the woman are mainly responsible for gathering fruits and berries.

I am simply fascinated by cultures that still can brave the temptations of modern day technology and live the old way of life. The Kwatiutl is noted for their art and craftsmanship. The Kwakwaka’wakw tribe traditionally practiced the art of weaving and woodcarving (such as native totem poles).

In ancient times the wealth of this nation was defined by the slaves they owned and the amount of material possessions that they had. They would take their property to the Potlatch that was a communal trading ground for native tribes. The Potlatch was banned several times in history because of the dangerous and often fatal tribal feuds and other disturbances that occurred. However, the Potlatch is still an ancient ceremony where gifts are given away intended as a good gesture from nation to nation establishing tribal ties from nation to nation.

The Kwakwaka’wakw and other Native peoples of the Pacific Northwest, in Canada and the USA still practice the potlatch today. Besides the bartering for goods and economic aspect of the Potlatch, there is a festival atmosphere with singing and dancing, spiritual manifestations and other events. The Kwakwaka’wakw are noted for their beautiful tribal dancing. These dances reflect the genealogy of the tribe, the display of their wealth, and contain some spiritual aspects as well.

Hamatsa is the secret society of the Kwakwaka’wakw and there is a debate of whether or not the Kwakwaka’wakw were or still are cannibals. Some anthropologists believe that they were in days gone by while others insist that the Hamatsa part of the dancing is strictly symbolic and tells the tale of two brothers who have a supernatural experience. In the end it appears the brothers are eating human flesh and this is where the controversy escalates. Other parts of the dance include dancing as supernatural animals. The Dzunukwa in Kwakwaka’wakw mythology is a hideous wild woman of the forest, a black furry animal like creature with long hideous looking breasts who seeks out little children to eat them. The famous German anthropologist Franz Boas, (July 9, 1858 – December 21, 1942), studied the tribe and provided us with much of what we know about Potlatch today.

The potlatch is traditionally a winter festivity. Since the tribes were concerned about gathering food for their people during the important summer months. In the native culture, which is so different from our own, wealth was not decided by how much you hoarded for yourself but rather how much you gave away. The Potlatch was the medium in which the giving away of wealth was practiced. Despite the problems with the potlatch that led to its banning in Canadian history the message of giving away your wealth is an ideal that greedy Western Societies have refused to embrace on such a grand scale.

The mandate of the U’mista Society is to preserve all cultural heritage aspects of the Kwakwaka’wakw. The U’mista Society was incorporated under the British Columbia Societies Act in 1972 and its board of directors consists of anyone who can link their lineage back to one of the Kwakwaka’wakw tribes. The board of directors is responsible for “developing, implementing and monitoring all policies.”

The U’mista society displays the famous Potlatch collections, stories of the origin of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation and historical data as well as cultural artifacts that were seized by Canada from potlatches of earlier days. The U’mista society is one the oldest First Nations cultural centers operating in British Columbia. The U’mista Society houses a museum, cultural education center, art gallery, gift shop and offers tours in its Alert Bay location. The U’mista Society hosts elaborate dance troop productions, and facilitates international academic scholars and research projects in several disciplines.

Do visit the U’mista Society website to obtain more information at: http://www.umista.org/about/index.php