The spirit of potlatch has been practiced by the Coquille People since time immemorial as a way to give and share wealth. When the Coquille People are abundantly blessed, they provide not only for themselves, but for their community and friends as well. Potlatch is the giving of gifts, especially during special occasions. The Coquille do not hoard resources; they give with a good heart to one another, strengthening community ties and ensuring reciprocity.

This year during the Restoration Celebration, hunters of the Coquille Tribe gifted hundreds of pounds of meat to Tribal Elders—an act of care for the community deeply rooted in this tradition of potlatch.

Giving back to the land is also an investment in future generations. The Coquille Tribe returns nutrients to the soil through composting at their Powers Property Food Forest and Gardens, treating land stewardship as another form of reciprocity.

The Tribe extends this spirit of sharing to waste diversion as well. Items no longer in use at the Ko-Kwel Casino Resort or tribal government are offered to tribal citizens at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis, helping keep usable goods out of landfills. When the casino hotel was renovated, mattresses, armoires, and chairs were gifted throughout the Tribe and to tribal employees rather than sent to the dump, saving on tipping fees while directly benefiting the community.

If everyone who was abundantly blessed practiced potlatch as a way of life, it would fundamentally transform how we interact with one another and the land. Instead of viewing resources as scarce, this tradition invites us to embrace an abundance mindset—where the true measure of wealth is not how much we hoard, but how generously we give.

Contact Cara Monson at caramonson@coquilletribe.org for more information