potlatch

Sara attends a potlatch hosted by her father and stepmother in Hydaburg, Alaska, where guests from all over come to share in the festivities. Food is prepared, the gym is set up, and speeches are given. Different Haida artists present dance screens to each clan, and then the dancers take the floor. Sara, her family, and their dance group, the Rainbow Creek Dancers, take the floor last, and she feels her ancestors dancing alongside her.

Native Americans hunted, fished, farmed, gathered, and raised animals for food. Depending on where they lived, this meant one people's diet could be vastly different from another people's. Food is always an interesting and motivating topic, one that readers can relate to no matter their background. Readers will find this volume especially thought-provoking as they learn about the culinary dishes and traditions of a variety of native peoples across North America. Sidebars and fact boxes offer additional information and contribute to the eye-catching layout. Concluding questions encourage readers to think more deeply about the essential ideas of the well-researched text.

Native American celebrations are packed with symbolic gestures and intriguing details. A kind of party called a potlatch, staged by native peoples of the Pacific Northwest, was marked by guests receiving gifts, not giving them, and were sometimes observed to get back at an enemy. This appealing volume about a high-interest aspect of native cultures highlights several celebrations like the potlatch as well as ceremonies important to Native Americans across North America. Thought-provoking fact boxes, historical images, and modern-day customs will engage readers of all levels. A concluding graphic organizer and critical-thinking questions encourage readers to consider the book's key ideas.

Describes the traditions of the Tsimshian Indians living in Metlakatla, Alaska, and, in particular, those connected with a potlatch they hold to celebrate their heritage.