RE: What's the Point(less)?

[Gregory Stapleton <gregsta@microsoft.com>]

Poster: Gregory Stapleton <gregsta@MICROSOFT.com>

I did say that there was a lot more to it than this, Milady. :)

Yes, it is a redistribution of wealth as you describe, but I also have
video of potlatchs done in the late 1800's - early 1900's, as well as
interviews with elders, which show/describe much destruction of the
"Wealth goodes" as well.  I did a major research paper on this when I
was in college as my degrees are in Anthropology / Archaeology and
Computer Science.  I can provide citations, if you like.

YIS
Gawain

>----------
>From: 	MarsaliFox@aol.com[SMTP:MarsaliFox@aol.com]
>Sent: 	Wednesday, July 17, 1996 10:43 AM
>To: 	atlantia@csc.ncsu.edu
>Subject: 	Re: What's the Point(less)?
>
>
>Poster: MarsaliFox@aol.com
>
>In a message dated 96-07-17 10:19:56 EDT, you write:
>
><<  For those of you unfamiliar with the term Potlatch, it is a
> practice developed by the Kwakutel (sp? Northwest Coast) Indians.  They
> would get together and build a large fire and you gained prestige by
> being the one to burn up / destroy the most valuable goods.  There's a
> lot more to it than this, but I believe you get the idea. >>
>
>My understanding of a potlatch is that wealth is redistributed, not
>destroyed.  The persons goods were given away, with particular attention to
>the needs of the elderly and poor.  Persons spent years collecting sufficient
>items for a give-away and entire families contributed so that the host would
>have enough items to gain prestige.
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