Interior verus Coast Salish basketry

• People of the Northwest Coast included a number of groups such as the Haida, Tlingit, Nishga, Kwakiutl, Tslmshian, and Coast Salish

• As coastal people, they relied on natural resources such as cedar trees and fish for food, clothing, shelter, tools, and transportation.

People of the Northwest Coast

• The Northwest Coast people lived in big houses made of cedar logs and planks

• Cedar trees were also made into canoes, some longer than 20 meters, which were built to endure journeys of hundreds of kilometers or for whale hunting.

Shelter, clothing, food, tools/weapons, and transportation for Coastal peoples

Although the Northwest Coast people were not farmers, they had a very complex society. Food was plentiful. Instead of farming, they would move around to various sites for different

food sources, depending on the time of year: seasonal rounds.

The year went like this…

• Winter– Living in permanent

villages– Little hunting and

gathering taking place– People spend time

repairing tools and making necessities

– Time for elders to pass down stories to younger generations

• Spring– Food supplies were low– Villages slowly break up

as families and houses begin to collect what food is available.

– Mostly a collection of sea creatures: clams, oysters, mussels, and shellfish

• Summer– People establish camps

throughout the region. Food such as salmon, birds, plants and berries, and shellfish are collected.

– Examples of where these villages were:• Stanley Park• English Bay• Lulu Island

• Autumn– Late summer/early fall

the salmon run occurs up the Fraser River

– People move up river to catch the salmon, which was then dried to last throughout the winter.

Social Organization of Northwest Coast Peoples

• Rank and privilege were very important.

• Chiefs and nobles in each village controlled access to resource sites

• Groups (clans) shared a name and descent from an ancestor

• A clan held territory and “owned” certain rituals, dances, songs, and crests.

• Some people had little status in the village

• Some people were slaves – purchased or captured in raids against other nations.

• These people are known for their beautiful totem poles. These were carved from cedar and depict a family history using crests and designed owned by an individual family

• What does it take as a culture to create such amazing pieces of art?

• What might your totem look like?

Ceremonies of the Northwest Coast Peoples

Some coastal animals on totems• BEAVER Creative, Artistic and Determined • BEAR Strength, Learned Humility,

Motherhood, Teaching • BUMBLEBEE Honesty, Pure Thinking -

Willingness and Drive • COPPER Wealth and Prestige • DOGFISH Persistence and Strength - A

Born Leader • DOVE Love, Gentleness and Kindness • DRAGON FLY Ever-changing Life • EAGLE Great Strength, Leadership and

Prestige • EAGLE FEATHER Good Luck to Both Giver

and Receiver • FROG Spring & New Life - Communicator,

Stability • HALIBUT Life protector, Strength and

Stability • HAWK Strength Far Sighted• HERON Patience, Graceful and Easy Going

• HUMMINGBIRD Love, Beauty, Intelligence, Spirit Messenger

• KILLER WHALE Traveler & Guardian - Symbol of Good

• KINGFISHER Luck, Patience, Speed and Agility

• LOON Peace, Tranquility - Generous Giving Nature

• MOON Protector and Guardian of the Earth by Night

• OTTER Trusting, Inquisitive and Bright - Loyal Friendship

• OWL Wisdom • RAVEN Creation & Knowledge - Bringer of

the Light• SALMON Dependability and Renewal - A

Provider • SEAL Bright, Inquisitive, Organized • SUN Healing Energy, Guardian of the Earth

by Day • THUNDERBIRD Powerful & Mystical - A

Leader WOLF Intelligence & Leadership - Strong Sense of Family

Stanley Park Totems Haida Gwaii Totems

The Potlatch• The Potlatch and ritual dancing were part of the

Northwestern Coastal people’s traditions.• The word comes from the Chinook dialect, meaning "to give

away" or "a gift".• The Potlatch was a ceremony where gifts were given as

payments to those who witness a ceremony, such as a wedding. They were also used to redistribute wealth and demonstrate reciprocity of wealth.

• Within the potlatch, hierarchical relations within and between clans, villages, and nations, are observed and reinforced through the distribution or sometimes destruction of wealth, dance performances, and other ceremonies.

• The status of any given family is raised not by who has the most resources, but by who distributes the most resources. The hosts demonstrate their wealth and prominence through giving away goods.

What reasons might the Canadian government have had for banning Potlatches?

• Complete the chart on the various First Nations groups

• Make sure that your Ethnography is complete.• Next class is presentations and beginning

review for the test.

Class and Homework