"iktas box"

[David Robertson]

LhaXayEm!  Qhata mEsayka?

Yesterday evening, a friend of mine was telling about how some older
relatives of hers (a great-aunt and -uncle, I think) gave Christmas gifts
every year of "iktas boxes".  An "iktas box" was what the rest of us call
a care package, I think.  :-)  It was a large wooden crate filled with
sausages, cheeses, trinkets and so forth.  These folks were from Walla
Walla, Washington, and were White.

I have the strangest feeling that I've heard the phrase "iktas box"
elsewhere.  Do any of you know of such a custom and phrase in past
Northwestern traditions?

Thanks,
Dave





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