During the potlatch ban from 1884-1951, the 'Namgis people continued to potlatch despite the risk. In 1981, they eventually succeeded in having many of their confiscated ceremonial potlatch items returned. These are now on exhibit at the U'mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay.
Doug Cranmer helped create many of the beams and posts of the U'Mista Cultural Centre. He also painted the massive whale and thunderbird crest figure on the front of the Centre. Cranmer copied the crest from a picture of a Chief's house in Alert Bay at the turn of the century. The two house fronts are identical, Cranmer says, except that the beak on the new housefront is made out of plywood.
