Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw "Heart Feast"
Love Expressed Through Giving
(Pacific Northwest Tribes, Indigenous American)
Standard Definition:
A love that is shown not in words, but in generosity—through the act of giving, of sharing, of ensuring others have enough.
Poetic Meaning:
Love as an offering, a gift given freely, a heart laid open like a feast for those in need.
Storytelling Etymology:
Among the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw people, wealth is not measured by what one owns but by what one gives away. A “Heart Feast” is a ceremonial display of love, where individuals offer gifts, food, and resources to their community, symbolizing abundance and connection.
Cultural Context & Symbolism:
This love rejects greed; it thrives in generosity. It teaches that love is not about holding on but about giving without expectation.
Poem:
To love is to give, to open the door,
To lay the feast, to share the store.
A gift, a hand, a heart so wide,
A love that asks for naught but pride.
Reflection:
Love is a gift best given. True wealth is not what we keep for ourselves, but what we share with others.
