1. The Northwest Coast Native Peoples
A: Mme. Tyrrell
B: C
C: Socials 9

2. Their Region: From Oregon to Alaska on the West Coast of Canada
Society evolved by 1500 BCE
Climate was mild, rich and diverse.
Seasonal rounds to collect food
Mobile habitations in lower mainland
30,000 people
#30.39, 40

3. Agriculture and diet: Complex society but no large- scale agriculture
Environment very rich in a diversity of foods
Ate berries, wild roots, bulbs (such as camas) and plants
#39, 41
Agriculture and diet:

4. Hunting & gathering: Hunted deer, elk, mountain goat
Gathered shellfish such as clams, oysters, mussels, abalone and sea urchins
Archaeologists find middens – piles of discarded shells/bones

5. Social Structure: Inherited rank and privilege
Chiefs and nobles controlled resources: house sites, salmon, berries
Clans = people of same name and descent
Common people had no prestige or privileges performed labour
Slavery – potlaches, sometimes killed
#30,31,32

6. Family Structure and Customs
Status and wealth important
Potlatch = noble’s status
Celebrated births, deaths, pole raisings
Chiefs give away most of possessions/ destroy property
Redistributes wealth
Rivalry potlatches regained wealth
#38

7. Coast Salish Social Structure
Musqueam, Kwantlen, Tsawassen, Squamish, Cowichan, Nanaimo
Less rigid, slavery uncommon
Power held by leaders, lived in longhouses.
Bilateral Kinship through mother or father
Inter-marriage common
Different groups often co- operated or cohabitated
#33, 41

8. Canoes, the ocean and food
Made from single cedar logs
100km hunting journeys
Whale hunts
20m long, carried 50 people
Salmon was caught with nets, hooks and traps
#37, 38

9. Coast Longhouses:
Western Red Cedar used for homes, totem poles, canoes, clothing and art
Houses large w/totem poles carved w/important images
Totem poles tell stories of clan’s origins and deeds
Origins represented by stylized animals and birds
#36, 34

10. Art, dance, costumes: Ritual dances were important
Communicated stories and legends
Elaborate costumes and masks
#35

11. Clothing : Woven cedar bark and other plant fibres
Feathers and shells used for decorations and jewelry
Mountain goat hair and goose down were woven
Cowichan sweaters
Deer & goat hides