Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did governments prohibit ceremonies such as the potlatch and the Sun Dance?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Performers at a Canadian powwow, c. 2008.
Governments in the United States and Canada prohibited Indigenous religious ceremonies, such as the potlatch and Sun Dance, as part of broader assimilationist policies designed to break cultural continuity and encourage the adoption of Christianity and Euro-American ways of life.12
Authorities rationalized these bans by framing the ceremonies as harmful to the public welfare rather than targeting the belief systems themselves. Specifically:3
- Potlatch: Officials argued that the ceremony, which involved feasting and gift-giving, impoverished sponsors and created an underclass that the public was forced to support.34
- Sun Dance: The government characterized the ritual as a form of torture due to the physical trials involved, claiming it was inherently harmful to the public good.3
These justifications were ethnocentric and failed to recognize the ceremonies' roles in maintaining social systems and fulfilling religious vows. Such prohibitions were often implemented unilaterally by government officials and remained in place for decades before being reversed in the 20th century.345