Aube Breton-Elleouet was in Alert Bay on Sunday night, returning a native headdress seized under Canada's notorious potlatch law in 1922.

The headdress, known as the yaxwiwe, was discovered in the collection of the famed French surrealist Andre Breton.


The potlatch is a native ceremony with ritual dances, songs, costumes and most importantly a giving of gifts to one another.

Apparently, the Canadian government declared the potlatch illegal in an effort to assimilate the native population. I've been told they also believed that these offerings of material wealth were detrimental to survival and would therefore be doing the natives a favour by preventing the practice.


Of course, the potlatch went on in secret. One ceremony was discovered in a remote village near the mouth of Knight Inlet. The punishment? Oakalla prison or giving up all the possessions reserved for the ceremony (protect them from themselves, my ass...).
About 200 items were seized from the Kwakwaka'wakw. They have got most of their collection back but this new discovery was unexpected.


There are a couple of museums who refuse to give up their piece of the collection (UBC Museum of Anthropology and London's Natural History Museum).


The entire story sounds pretty fascinating. The way Breton acquired the piece and what returning the headdress represents for the people of Alert Bay. Among the other amazing artifacts Andre Breton had before he died were painting by Salvador Dali, Miro, Magritte, photos by Man Ray, books signed by Freud...


wow