Final answer:
The Kwakwaka'wakw of British Columbia use the potlatch ceremony as a key metaphor to represent their cultural values, illustrating a societal focus on generosity and status through redistribution rather than the accumulation of wealth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key metaphor used by the Kwakwaka'wakw of British Columbia to give meaning to a wide range of their experience is the potlatch ceremony. This ceremony is a social event where status and prestige are manifested not by one's possessions but rather by one's generosity and the act of giving away resources and gifts. This practice reflects a complex economic system and social structure that emphasizes the redistribution of wealth and the reinforcement of social ties rather than the accumulation of individual wealth.
The potlatch serves as a metaphor for the Kwakwaka'wakw worldview, indicating that power, respect, and status come from what one is able to give to the community, rather than what one is able to accumulate. This is is in stark contrast to many Western cultures where individual wealth accumulation is often a marker of success.