Introduction to the Cultures of North American Aboriginal Peoples The Northwest Coast

Regional Characteristics: The Northwest Coast –Narrow coastal band, including offshore islands, that stretches from southeastern Alaska to southern Oregon/northern California –Interior limit set by Canadian Rockies and Cascade Mountains –Marked by deep valleys running east-to-west creating in effect islands

Climate Mild temperatures and high rainfall –At lower elevations rainfall in excess of 1000 mm p.a. –At higher elevations, snowfall amounts average 4.1 m –At lower elevations average temperatures remain above zero Latitude/Longitude = 49.1 N; W Avg. Annual Temperature (C) = 9.8 Annual Temp. Range (C) =16 Total Annual Precip. (mm) =1048 Summer Precip. (mm) = 277 Winter Precip. (mm) = 771

Flora –Temperate rainforest Coniferous trees –Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) –Redwood (Sequoia sempevirins) –Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) –Spruce –Yellow cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) Not a cedar but members of the False-cypress family –Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) –Hemlock (Tsuga sp.) A member of the pine family

Red Cedar Bark

Vegetational Zones of North America

Northwest Coast fauna (1) Herbivores –Moose (Alces alces) los –Elk (wapiti) (Cervus elaphus) jelen –White-tail (Virginia) deer (Odocoileus virginianus) –Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) –Dall (mountain) sheep (Ovis dalli) –Rabbits/hares –Beaver (Castor canidensis) bobr kanadský

Northwest Coast Fauna (2) Carnivores –Bears Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) Brown bear (Ursus arctos) American black bear (Ursus americanus) baribal –Canines Wolf Coyote (Canis latrans) Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) –Felines Mountain lion (Puma concolor) Lynx (Lynx canadensis) –Mustelids Wolverine (Gulo gulo) rosomák Otter, marten, mink, weasel Sea otter –Raccoon (Procyon lotor) –Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Northwest Coast Fauna (3) Whales –Killer whale (Orcinus orca) –Gray whale Sea otters Salmon –Chum, pink, coho, chinook, sockeye

Diversity and density of resources Disparity between marine and terrestrial resources –Terrestrial Low diversity, lower density –Marine Higher diversity, higher density

Key characteristics Salmon Food Storage Woodworking Sedentary villages Property ownership and wealth accumulation Status and rank –Potlatch

Division of labor Women – raising children –tending the fire –Cooking –making clothing and weaving baskets –collected shellfish –dried wild fruits and vegetables as well as plants used for dyes and medicines. –Processing and drying fish for winter meals was a major activity –Women also harvested cedar bark to make mats, hats, capes, skirts, and ornaments. Men –Fishing –Hunting –Woodworking

Diet Salmon –Range in size from 2.5 to 55 kg –Anadromous Born in freshwater, migrate to ocean and after 2-5 years return to spawn and die –Individual species return at different times of year (spring, summer and fall) known as runs Other marine resources –Herring, oulachon, trout, marine mammals, shellfish Terrestrial resources are much less important –Cervidae, mountain sheep Critical for other items (hides, fur, bones, antler –Berries

Salmon Salmon were fished using: –Hooks Baits, lures, sinkers, lines and floats –Harpoons and spears –Dip nets –Fish weirs and traps Prime fishing spots were highly prized and protected (owned)

Food storage Because of seasonality and regularity of resource, storage is critical Salmon (and other fish) –Dried –Smoked –Often packed with berries Salmon runs while regular will sometimes fail meaning that the village must rely on stored food

Woodworking Trees are straight-grained softwoods Narrow range of groundstone tools –axes, adzes, hammers, wedges Logs are split into planks

Woodworking II Storage boxes –Bent wood Masks Totem poles Plank houses Canoes

Haida Totem poles

Haida totem pole

Long houses Post and plank construction Square to rectangular Max. 30 m long, 8 m wide Occupied by a matrilineage

Canoes Dugout –Made from a single log Various sizes according to function –1-man fishing canoes Inshore fishing –Trading canoes Operated on the open ocean Crews of up to 20, 20 m. long, 5 tons of cargo

Miscellaneous items: rattle, bowl, hat

Sedentary villages Large villages had upwards of 200 persons Seasonal movements to resource procurement sites: –Fishing camps –Berry gathering camps Each village was politically and economically independent Some degree of economic interdependency between neighboring villages

Property ownership and wealth Wealth defines status Ownership generally vested in lineage Property included: –Land Fishing spots, berry picking sites, etc, –Manufactured items defined as having value Coppers –Each copper had a name, history and specific value based on these factors Chilkat Blankets –Made from mountain sheep wool and cedar bark fibers –Woven on simple loom

Status and Rank Social system –Ranked lineages, clans, etc. Wealth Manifesting status and rank –Potlatch Ceremonies usually held in winter May last a number of days Held to mark significant events: –Births, deaths, marriages, accessions to offices Involved singing, dancing, feasting, display of ritual items such as crests, masks, etc. and gift-giving –These items are usually associated specifically with potlatches Additionally functioned as a system for the redistribution of goods within a region

Potlatch Regalia