1. People of the Plateau and the Inter-Mountain Region

2. The Inter-Mountain Region (Okanagan/ kootney / caribou region)
What region do the people of the plateau live?
What is the Topography?
What is the climate?
What is the Vegetation?
What is a rain-shadow?
The Inter-Mountain Region (Okanagan/ kootney / caribou region)
Streams, rivers,
Valleys & mountains & plateaus
Varied climate by elevation: Cool and wet, or hot and dry
Low precipitation
Sparse grasslands, semi desert in parts, thin pine in high areas
Rain-shadow: no rain on leeward side of mountain (rains on windward side)

3. Live in Pit houses
Built near water, in soft soil, 3 meters deep, with rafters to support roof, and bark/ earth/ sod roof
6-8 m across (average)
Hole in center of roof for smoke ventilation (hearth under hole)and entrance
Had notched log as ladder
Hole could be closed for protection
Platforms around inner walls – beds/ seating
Excellent protection from winter cold
Live in tents in summer

4. Pit house

5. Live in pit house for few years – then needs replacing
Eat Salmon from rivers
Eat plants: berries, bulbs, roots and onions
Preserve food for winter (smoke fish, dried berries, roasted veggies)
Hunt animals, including deer
Use snares, fences, bow and arrow, dogs

6. Clothing: deer hide, moccasins
Low status may have shoes of salmon skin
Travel by canoe in rivers
Culture: Trade shells and Soapstone
Learn Sun Dance from plains people

7. Questions and summary Add the questions in the left-hand column
Summary Paragraph:
How did the physical environment of the intermountain region influence the culture of the people of the Plateau?

8. Example Summary
The culture of the people of the plateau was greatly influenced by the geography of the Inter-mountain region in which they lived. The plateau people ate salmon and berries from the surrounding environment, and used various methods to preserve perishable foods for the long winters. They built pit houses to live in, using the ground to protect them from both the hot and cold, with a roof entrance that could be closed to keep out the many animals in the region. They developed the bow and arrow to hunt deer and dressed in deer skin, as that animal was abundant. The region in which they lived has a large influence on their way of life.