the native funeral potlatch

I'm going to talk about this tradition as if you've never been to one. it's difficult to do since we don't normally talk of these things when it's not happening right now. it's like tempting fate. and the last thing a native man wants to do is chance losing his luck..talking about karma.

but I'll do my best here since the genesis of my blog came from a proposal of a south central urban government body to limit the taking of a moose for potlatches. made my hackles stand as it did for many people in our little village. as well as all along the river. the moose is absolutely essential for a funerary gathering. how people treat their dead goes right to the essence of who you are and how you give respect. any suggestion to restrict or otherwise limit this tradition hits our people right where we live. it cannot be stopped and woe to those who try.  we've fought and won this battle before.  supported by the courts and well financed, we still feel and hear urban alaska threats.

how we put away our loved ones starts with a loss. the native community comes together very tight. bad news travels fast everywhere, and the river grapevine is more than just amazing, now fueled by technology like this. people start getting ready, start traveling if needed, call the grieving family to see what they need done and to give love, to see how things are indian timed, to get into the rhythm of what is about to happen.

a potlatch doesn't just happen in a vacuum. it grows from our culture and is the central event of a funeral capping off many days of work. grief then a final dinner after feeding visitors, friends, and community three meals a day for the entire time it takes, usually around 3-4 days. anthropologists might describe this as a redistribution of wealth. whatever.

all who can, first gather at the home of the grieving family. this is called having tea. a normally busy native home gets full real quick. people eat, visit, find out who's traveling, what's going to happen tomorrow, and have tea, time to sync your indian time. elsewhere craftsman are at work, new lumber is acquired for talented, experienced local carpenters to start building a casket. these village men are usually the same skilled and experienced carpenters called on during each such time to perform their much appreciated task, creating beautiful containers befitting the respect and love of the departed. once the casket is done, the women come in with cloth and dress the casket with lining. truly a family and community effort. we're all family..upriver and downriver.

meanwhile there are young men out digging a grave. rain, snow, or shine. -40 or +80 doesn't matter. frozen ground will not stop them. sometimes new ones just learning how to work want to pause and look around their town with all these visitors around. but it's just one of those jobs where a talk from an uncle is handy here. the kind of work which once started should not stop till it's done. a hole in the ground is made. the area cleared and cleaned around the places people will be. dirt pilled neatly and tarped..stays dry and soft for later.

a moose is taken long before this time by other young men from our village happy for the opportunity to hunt during a calendar period when the season is normally closed.

the gift of this moose is quartered and hung. the head set aside. all soon to become the central focus of the traditional potlatch meal, moose head soup.while homes are cooking everywhere, men prepare the soup on an open fire. carefully tended since burnt soup is a big no-no.

for the young men happy to hunt there is much pride to do everything right. the moose gave it's life to them. gives life to us all.

some people might see this as the rub with parts of urban Alaska. i don't think so, not here in Nenana. but that's another blog.

if someone tells you the potlatch will be 6:30 Indian time. it means you should reach sometime between 5:30-6 if you want to find a easy place to park and a good seat. many will come early and find their seat, visit, help in the kitchen, more visit, lots of work, mostly work, then more visit, then where you sitting?

right on indian time everyone is seated. freeze paper is rolled out all along the rows of seats in George hall. then the moose arrives. met by song and dance. life enters the hall. food is given out in a traditional manner, usually by a male village leader and young people.

part of a rite of passage in our village culture. starting with the moose head soup served by young men, this distribution is detailed, sometimes complex and material for another blog.

for now. lets just say you're stuffed with good food, have extra to bring home and caught up on all the news from your visit. time for speeches. relaxing. don't worry you won't have to make a speech. but should the inspiration and urge strike, anyone can step forward and talk about what's happening here.

the family who suffers their lost thanks all for coming. thanks the hunters, the grave workers, the cooks, all who helped. everyone is given respect and validated in one way or another. there's a place for everyone. life is renewed.

then it's time to sing and dance. bring your goodies home. come back to the hall if you want and native dance till you're ready to go home and rest. maybe after the small snack.

so you see is really quite simple.

through our loss, hard as it may be, we find strength and comfort in our tradition. the moose gives it's life to us so that all can live. especially those students and family who cannot be here during a time of sorrow.

then for years to come people say with pride, "we did it right, good potlatch".

enough for now. i didn't mention the give away, memorial potlatches, or stick dances. our traditions are as complex as the number of villages and tribes throughout alaska. maybe others up & down river and asnywhere reading this can add to what i've already put down, correct my mistakes, and help keep my luck.
ana baasee