For a more
intimate connection with the locals at Metlakatla, we stopped at the main
grocery store in town and picked up a few supplies. We found the locals to be welcoming as we
made our rounds through the streets and shops; the town reminded us of Mexico
where things are not in the best of repair, but people seem to be happy here
and very family oriented. We also
stopped by the “Market Place” which serves as a tourist office and center for
displaying and selling local arts.
I had
read that Native dance performances are held at the Longhouse during the summer
months when tour boats are in town.
As
luck would have it, a boat tour from Ketchikan would be arriving that afternoon
and a performance was scheduled to begin at 12:30pm.
Since we had arrived on our own boat, they
asked that we provide a donation which we were pleased to do.
The performance involved over a dozen people
of all ages from 2 years old and up, including great grandma.
The little ones in costume were adorable and
knew exactly what to do; the little 2 year old boy tapped his staff on the
floor with the men while the little girl of 2 years followed the motions of the
women.
Older children around 7 years and
10 years old along with teenagers participated in various dances which included
drums and paddles.
The elders had more
elaborate costumes, providing leadership and narration.
It was all quite casual but very well done;
at the beginning only a few dancers appeared, and then more and more dancers trickled
into the scene.
In ancient Tsimshian
culture there were several individual tribes, each with its own chief and
governing council.
Within the tribes
were four major clans:
the Eagle
(lachsgeek), the Raven (gunhada), the Wolf (lachgeebuu), and the Killer Whale
(gisbuutwada).
Towards the end of the
performance, the audience was asked to join in and move with the dancers in a
circle copying their motions.
It was
quite moving for me, I felt a special connection with my background of Native
Lakota heritage.
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