THE GIFT MUST ALWAYS MOVE
There is a tribe of native Americans for whom the act of gift giving has become a sacred duty. Gifts are shared at every occasion from the most routine visits among friends to the most important tribal rituals. It is not an overstatement to say that giving a gift for this group of people is crucial to the very survival of their community. What is intriguing about this practice of gift giving is that gifts are regularly given, received, and re-given. The same gift might be given and received many times throughout the community. When asked about this unique practice of gift giving, the chief of the tribe said simply, “The gift must always move.” The gift must always move. In other words, for a gift to remain a gift, it must be given and shared. When one person takes it for their own possession, the movement stops and the gift ceases to be a gift. For this particular…
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