Singing, dancing, and beating

The major ceremonial event around which Athabaskan society revolved was the potlatch. The term applies to various formal occasions when one group host another, distributing gifts to the guest to mark important social events. This is a potlatch taking place in Minto, AK for a grandmothers funeral. They dance for hours, singing songs and beating drums. It's just amazing how dressed up they can get, with such pretty designs on there outfits. Not so much in this video, but i've seen some other potlatches.