1. A ceremonial feast practiced by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, in which a host gives away or destroys wealth to demonstrate status and generosity.
Usage: Historically associated with Tlingit, Haida, Kwakwaka'wakw, and other First Nations peoples; The practice was banned by the Canadian government from 1885 to 1951

Examples

• The chief organized a potlatch to celebrate his son's coming of age.
• During the potlatch, the host distributed blankets, canoes, and other valuables to guests.
• Potlatch ceremonies reinforced social hierarchies and community bonds among Pacific Northwest tribes.
• The revival of potlatch traditions has become an important part of cultural preservation for many First Nations communities.
• Anthropologists have studied the potlatch as a unique economic and social system.