The Potlatch
Close Read Passage, 389 words, Informational (nonfiction), Description, Level Z (Grade 5), Lexile 1020L
Indigenous peoples belonging to various tribes in the Pacific Northwest have celebrated important life events since the 1800s with potlatches—celebrations during which hosts display their power. Potlatches were banned in the United States and Canada for a period of time, but they persist today as a sign of the resilience of these tribes.