Potlait

Potlait is a term with limited attestation in English-language sources and may be a misspelling, variant spelling, or a term used in a specific text to refer to potlatch, the well-documented Northwest Coast ceremony. Because reliable references for "potlait" as a distinct practice are scarce, its meaning is unclear outside of contexts that explicitly use the word.

Potlatch, the closely related concept, is a ceremonial gift-giving and redistribution event among Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast, including groups such as the Tlingit, Haida, Kwakwakaʼwakw, and Coast Salish. In a typical potlatch, a host distributes wealth and status through gifts, feasting, speeches, songs, and dances. The ceremony can mark important life events, reinforce social ties, and establish or reaffirm rank within a lineage or community. Items such as blankets, carved regalia, canoes, and other wealth may be shown, exchanged, or transferred during the proceedings.

Etymology and terminology: the word potlatch derives from Chinook Jargon meaning “to give.” For potlait, there is no widely accepted etymology in standard reference works, suggesting it is probably a misspelling or a regional variant of potlatch rather than a separate, well-documented term.

Historical context: potlatches have a long history in their region but faced suppression by colonial authorities in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Practices were revived and restructured in the later 20th century as Indigenous communities reaffirmed cultural heritage.

Contemporary status: today, potlatches remain culturally significant for many Northwest Coast communities, with variations in form and protocol that reflect local traditions and contemporary practices.