The potlatch was banned in Canada between 1885 and 1951. The masks and other regalia held and cared for by U’mista as part of their permanent Potlatch Collection were confiscated after an illegal potlatch in 1921. Since 1922, many of the stolen Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw masks and sacred ceremonial objects have been held in museums and private collections around the world.

When the potlatch ban was lifted, the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw fought for decades for the return of their belongings taken during a time of great sorrow.  Their dedicated efforts toward repatriation have succeeded in bringing most of the items taken during the ban home. These belongings are now shown at the U’mista Cultural Centre. 

The other permanent exhibits include traditional ethnobiology, origin stories of the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw villages, and historical and contemporary Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw objects. Travelling exhibits of significance to the community are also displayed.  

The U’mista Cultural Society continues its work to ensure the survival of all aspects of the Kwakwakaʼwakw’s cultural heritage.

Kwakwaka’wakw lands are vast, and there are five dialects spoken by the Kwakwaka’wakw . U’mista Cultural Centre is a place for all Kwakwaka’wakw. The U’mista Potlatch Collection has created a sense of pride within the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw community. The elders see the return of the belongings to Kwakwaka’wakw lands and Peoples as righting a wrong.  

The community is now able to use the artifacts as teaching tools or borrow their family belongings to replicate for present-day potlatch. In some cases, the returned belongings return deeper cultural memory and revitalize their stories and uses, strengthening the entire community and culture. 

The Centre supports local Indigenous artists by buying their art and sharing their stories with visitors. The staff maintains a comprehensive list of artists, living and late, and shares insights into their creative lives with curious visitors.

The benefits of the work at U’mista spread to other First Nations. Throughout the ongoing repatriation work, U’mista has worked with several other Nations, providing them with information on the repatriation process so it may be repeated. This includes technical knowledge of the operational aspects of repatriation. The Cultural Society also partners with and collaborates with other organizations to support their good work, hosts tours for school groups, and offers year-round programming for Kwakwaka’wakw students to learn language and culture.

U’mista Cultural Society honours a mandate to ensure the survival of all aspects of Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw culture for all Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw Peoples, including the values of stewardship and reciprocity with nature. Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw language and culture express the unbroken connection between people and place. 

The Centre’s exhibits and programs educate visitors on traditional Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw plant knowledge and the importance of care for the environment, fostering awareness of the land and its stewardship. Supported by the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) Heritage Infrastructure Program, U’mista upgraded its HVAC system to maintain a climate-controlled environment for precious Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw belongings, many of which are made of vulnerable natural materials such as softened cedar bark (Kadza̱kw) and hide. The facility has planned continued improvements for energy efficiency. 

Alert Bay is considered a remote community, and U’mista focuses on buying as locally as possible, supporting local artists, and creating and contributing benefits to the local economy, all of which reduce the Centre’s footprint in the area. By creating a home for cultural preservation and practice, U’mista helps to ensure a sustained connection of Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw to their lands–and wellness for both the land and people.  

U’mista Cultural Centre welcomes your support, hosting volunteer opportunities, and welcoming contributions to Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw-led cultural sustainability through a donation to their registered charity or purchase of an U’mista Cultural Society membership.