Documentary. Narrator, Robert Joseph. Featured: Gloria Cranmer Webster, Curator of the U'Mista Cultural Centre. VHS.
Summary:
In the late 19th century, in an unjust and misguided effort toward Indian social and cultural assimilation, the Canadian government removed ritual objects from the possession of the Kwakiutl Indians. The Indians concealed some objects from the government and in 1921 the Kwakiutl people of Alert Bay, British Columbia, held their last secret potlatch, a sacred ceremony central to their social life, in which the objects were used. But these objects were then seized and tribal leaders imprisoned. In 1980 at Alert Bay, the U'Mista Cultural Centre (u'mista means "Something of great value that has come back") opened its doors to receive and house the cultural treasures which were seized decades earlier and only then returned to the people by the government -- including splendid masks, blankets and copper heirlooms. This film documents the cultural significance of these events for today's Kwakiutl people and their struggle to preserve and revive their own languge, history and cultural identity.
OCLC:
(OCoLC)16988889
Locations:
OVUX522 -- University of Iowa Libraries (Iowa City)
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.