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Kwakwaka'wakw

1792 – present
Native nationNorth America

The 'Kwak'wala-speaking peoples' of Queen Charlotte and Johnstone straits, whose potlatches were so powerful Canada banned them.

The 1884 potlatch ban led to mass arrests and confiscated regalia (returned from 1979); the U'mista Cultural Centre revived the tradition and the many Kwakwaka'wakw bands thrive around Alert Bay and Fort Rupert.

Borders in 2026 · drawn from 2 sourced border frames
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Borders over time

The atlas holds 2 border frames for Kwakwaka'wakw — the shape you scrub through changes in 1792 · 1849.

Further reading

Sources