THE ALKATCHO CARRIER OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 337

nature of contact with the Coast cultures and the bearing of that
contact upon Alkatcho Carrier Culture.

Offhand, in view of the continuous and direct contact between
the Carrier and the Bella Coola of the Coast and the general re-
semblance between the formal structure of the potlatch-rank com-
plex in both cultures, the source of the Carrier potlatch-rank
complex might be definitely attributed to Bella Coola. But before
accepting this premise it is necessary to dispose of two other possi-
bilities. The potlatching complex might have been derived di-
rectly from the Tsimshian, with whom the Carrier have had some
contact, or indirectly from the Tsimshian by way of the Upper
Carrier at Hazelton, with whom contact was intermittent though
not infrequent, even some intermarriage having taken place. The
former possibility is improbable simply on the basis of meagreness
of contact. The latter possibility, though, must be considered with
some seriousness, particularly since the Alkatcho Carrier use of
crests can be derived, as will be seen later, from the clan and
phratry system of the Upper Carrier, which in turn had been drawn
from the Tsimshian. But an analysis of the historical factors re-
sponsible for the particular integration of crest prerogatives at
Alkatcho is the very key to the source of the potlatch-rank complex
in that culture. This problem has already been considered in some
detail.?7 A summary will suffice.

An analysis of one of the social units among the Alkatcho Car-
rier, referred to by the natives as a nEts/, or crest group, is puzzling
because of the contradictory information given by the Indians.

On the one hand the crest group is described as a local group
having economic and ceremonial functions in common, and own-
ing the prerogative of displaying the crest animal as a carving on
grave posts, house ridge-poles, paintings on house fronts, and on
such various other objects as spoons, clothing, etc. Each nEtsi has
its own songs and dances. None of the crest groups had a legend
relating to its origin. It appears that since the ownership and dis-
play of a crest must be validated by a distribution of property,
membership can be accessible only to the nobility—in Alkatcho
Carrier terms, anyone who can potlatch. On the other hand, a
genealogical study of crests reveals that a nEtsi has no marriage

71. Goldman, op. cit.