Chief Cuneah orchestrated much of the sea otter trade in the islands of Haida Gwaii, the Queen Charlotte archipelago. He began to call himself “Taglus” (Douglas) Cuneah, participating in a Haida tradition of name exchange. Taking the name of a companion and giving one’s own name in return was a gesture of honour that showed powerful relationships. In this case, Cuneah was demonstrating an affiliation with Captain Douglas, who sailed for Captain John Meares’ trading company in 1789.
Gifts were exchanged between captains and community leaders (who were referred to as “chiefs” by the Europeans because they spoke on behalf of their people, but who had multiple roles as respected hunters, negotiators, and spiritual leaders). Captain Cook’s expedition returned with a feast bowl of the Chugach people of what is now Prince William Sound. Tlingit armour of hide and slats can be found in Boston, brought by American sailors. The Malaspina and Galiano expeditions returned with a Tlingit helmet following contact between the Spanish and the peoples of the north Pacific. The Europeans gave sheet copper and other useful raw materials.
These cultures in contact tried to understand the diplomatic gestures of the other. Maquinna came to expect a gun salute when ships with European naval officers entered harbour. Captains and officers were invited as guests to the potlatch, a key economic and community event in the Pacific Northwest. It was a celebration where the accumulated wealth of the host was distributed to the guests according to their position in society. Great respect was granted to the host of the potlatch, who honoured himself and his guests with feasting, dancing, and presents. Captains Bodega y Quadra and Vancouver were invited to a Nuu-chah-nulth potlatch, which they attended together in full uniform. Vancouver reported that the potlatch feast was held in a building “filled with mirrors and burnished copper … which reflected the glow of the central fire.”
