Native cultures from around the globe such as the Kwakwaka’wakw of the great Northwest and the Maoris of New Zealand have been holding ceremonies like the potlatch for thousands of years. On special occasions, tribes gather peacefully for days in a spirit of friendly competition to celebrate community and see who can offer the most elaborate gifts. The status of tribes is determined not by how much they can accumulate, but by how much they can give. In these stable societies, giving is rewarded, while hoarding is not. In ancient times the gifts would be ritually burned at the end of the ceremonies, demonstrating nonattachment to material goods and elevating the importance of community to the highest level. From Wikipedia: “the potlatch could involve a feast, with music, dance, theatricality and spiritual ceremonies.” The rebirth of the gift economy in the context of modern festival culture gives us reason to hope and raises this question:

Have we finally come full circle?