"Kamloops Potlatch" (June 12, 1891)

[David Robertson]

...Spokane _Spokesman-Review_, page 6, column 1...

"Many Hundreds of Indians in Attendance."

"During the early part of the past week the great siwash nation, the
Indians from all parts of the province, held at Kamloops a religious fete,
commonly called a potlatch.  The Kootenai Star says:  The Indian reserve
opposite the town [Dave notes:  This is the place where the stopsigns now
say EST'IL in Shuswap] presented an animated appearance, where the
children of the forest, like the children of Israel of old, assembled
together in avenues of tepees or tents, around one common tabernacle, to
worship the Great Spirit for a season, and receive instructions from their
priests.  Many hundreds of Indians were there with their wives and
children, and the scene from a distance was a pretty one, as the natives
moved around in their lethargic style, the gay colors of the women's dress
contrasting with the sombre garb of the men, the white tents and the
verdure of the splendid reserve.  The Roman Catholic bishop of British
Columbia [Durieu???] and local priests [including J-M R Le Jeune???]
addressed the Indians [in Chinook Jargon, presumably], services being held
every morning and evening.  The exchanging of presents was a feature of
the old-time potlatch, but that has been done away with to a considerable
extent."

[Dave also notes:  I wonder how perfect the writer's understanding was of
the word "potlatch", for him to have applied it to a Christian festival!]

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