The gifts that a host gave out to his guests depended on the guest's status. One of the most valuable gifts that a host could give out was woolichan oil, because of its high trade value. The most expensive and largest potlatches were held during the winter months because the Haida had more time to concentrate on art and ceremonies. Speeches were very important in potlatches, where the speaker would talk about how amazing and wealthy the host was, and how small and insignificant the guests were; to make the guests feel lucky that they were invited to such a wealthy and important man's potlatch. Potlatch was not the only way that the Haidas" showed their wealth and social status, there were many more ways.
Another way that the Haida people showed their wealth and social status was through art. One of the most famous pieces of Haida art was the totem pole. These totem poles were made of cedar logs and could reach up to 50 feet tall, and were like the family's coat of arms. The totem poles were placed in front of a family's house with the family's crest proudly displayed on it. Totem poles only seemed to be made by the peoples on the Pacific coast, and at first could only be afforded by the chiefs. Later, when Europeans communicated with the Haida people, more people could afford totem poles, because of the Europeans" iron tools, which made it easier for them to carve the wood. Therefore the totem poles became cheaper, until almost everyone had at least one. If you did not have a totem pole, you were considered very poor and unworthy of anything. The more totem poles that you had, the higher your social status, and more respected you would be. Also, the more colorful and more decorative the totem poles were, usually the more expensive they were, and therefore the wealthier the buyer was. Totem poles weren't the only things that showed high social status. Because the Haida people had such a wealth of food right near them (salmon in the rivers, berries, sea animal, etc.
