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KWAKIUTL

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Originally appearing in Volume V15, Page 957 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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KWAKIUTL , a tribe of See also:

North-See also:American See also:Indians of Wakashan stock. They number about 2000. Formerly the See also:term was used of the one tribe in the north-See also:east of See also:Vancouver, but now it is the collective name for a See also:group of Wakashan peoples. The Kwakiutl Indians are remarkable for their conservatism in all matters and specially their adherence to the See also:custom of See also:Potlatch, which it is sometimes suggested originated with them. Tribal See also:government is in the hands of See also:secret See also:societies. There are three social ranks, hereditary chiefs, See also:middle and third estates, most of the latter being slaves or their descendants. Entry to the societies is forbidden the latter, and can only be obtained by the former after See also:torture and See also:fasting. The hamatsa or cannibal society is only open to those who have been members of a See also:lower society for eight years.

End of Article: KWAKIUTL

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