Final answer:
Potlatch ceremonies were socio-political events practiced by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest to demonstrate status, wealth, and importance through giving and sharing. The hosts ensured that attendees were well-fed, entertained, and received gifts. Items typically given away or destroyed included blankets, animal skins, copper plaques, and preserved food.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of potlatch is a socio-political ceremony practiced by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. It was a way for the host to demonstrate their status and importance. During potlatches, the host would ensure that all attendees were well-fed, entertained, and received gifts. The purpose was to show wealth through giving and sharing, rather than accumulating wealth.
The items typically given away or destroyed during these ceremonies included blankets, animal skins, copper plaques, and preserved food. Sometimes, these items were deliberately burned as a spectacle of extravagant waste. The chief of the host community would present an abundance of gifts to the chief of the invited community, challenging them to reciprocate with an even more lavish feast and greater trove of gifts.