4 Image of Terri-lynn Davidson

Terri-lynn Davidson dancing a mask and spreading eagle down to honour the Chiefs of Haida Gwaii from both Skidegate and Gaw Tlagee (Old Massett) at a potlatch in October 2022.

With settlers and the establishment of the Canadian Government came a long history of assimilation policies that targeted First Nations people’s ways of life. As an attempt to integrate First Nations people into settler lifestyles, the Canadian Government attempted to eliminate their cultural, political, social, and economic practices with the introduction of the Gradual Civilization act of 1857 and the Gradual enfranchisement act of 1869. Both of these laws were made as an attempt to strip First Nations peoples from their Indian status and prompted them to embrace the Canadian lifestyle. In 1884, as part of its assimilation effort, the federal government amended the Indian Act to prohibit the potlatch until 1951. Potlatches are seen by First Nations peoples as a way to redistribute wealth and conduct various types of business while holding ceremonies which often included masks. The government and its allies saw the celebration as anti-Christian, irresponsible, and wasteful of property. The Indian Act marginalized women and stripped them from any sort of status. Women are now reclaiming their status and culture in numerous ways including at potlatches and taking part in traditional ceremonies.