The Potlatch is a ceremony that celebrates an indigenous Nation's governing structure, its culture and spiritual traditions. It primarily functions to redistribute wealth, identify status and rank, and to establish claims to names, powers and rights to hunting and fishing territories. Nonetheless, Potlatches are commonly held to celebrate social events such as marriages, births, funerals and, of course, the raising of a Totem Pole. Prior to colonialism, the announcement of a Potlatch was often quite elaborate with dancers wearing traditional regalia arriving in ceremonial dugout canoes. Potlatches can last anywhere from one evening to several days and involve feasting, spirit dances, singing and theatrical demonstrations (Gadacz 2006).