Regalia confiscated in 1921 on display in parish hall in Alert BayT?lisa_lag_aml, Sun Mask, Photo: Christina Cook, Sabalxis The Meaning of ''U'mista'' In earlier days, people were sometimes taken captive by raiding parties. When they returned to their homes, either through payment of ransom or by a raid, they were said to have u'mista. The return of our treasures from distant museums is a form of u'mista.The potlatch was banned in Canada between 1885 and 1951. The masks and other regalia that you see here were all confiscated after an illegal potlatch in 1921. After the ban was lifted, the Kwakwaka'wakw people fought for decades for the return of their sacred regalia that had ended up in museum and private collections around the world. Most of the regalia has come home and it is shown here at the U'mista Cultural Centre and at the Nuyumbalees Museum. Explore U'mista - take a virtual tourThe free Kwak'wala app is ready to download! more... See more text