Groups
Main groups of the Northwest Coast
There are many distinct aboriginal groups in the Northwest Coast region. There are around 70 but there are several main groups. These include:
-Haida
-Tlingit
-Tsmishian
-Nuu-chah-nulth (Nookta)
-Salashian
-Kwakiutl
-Chinook
-Haida
-Tlingit
-Tsmishian
-Nuu-chah-nulth (Nookta)
-Salashian
-Kwakiutl
-Chinook
Language
There are also several main language groups:
-Haida
-Tlingit
-Tsmishian- Nishga(Nisga'a) and Gitksan
-Nuu-chah-nulth (Nookta)- Haisla, Heiltsuk, and Kwakwakw'wakw(Kwakiutl)
-Salishan- Nuxalk and Coast Salish
-Chinook
-Haida
-Tlingit
-Tsmishian- Nishga(Nisga'a) and Gitksan
-Nuu-chah-nulth (Nookta)- Haisla, Heiltsuk, and Kwakwakw'wakw(Kwakiutl)
-Salishan- Nuxalk and Coast Salish
-Chinook
Religion
The native people of the Northwest Coast share the the belief of a spirit world. Different groups have different traditions, stories and myths about various topics ranging form the change of the seasons to stories about creation. The Squamish people throw the bones of salmon back into the river after they are done eating becuase they believe that the salmon will be reborn once back in the water. The Tlingit believe that animals were humans who were frightened into the woods. The people also believe in guardian spirits that can be obtained through self scrifice, fasting, and prayers. Religion is a very important part of the culture of the natives of the Northwest Coast.
Shamans
A shaman's Rattle
The aboriginals in this region believe in Shamans or medicine men. Shamans were mostly men but sometimes women. The Shamans were the only people who could connect with the spirit world and cure the sick. If someone was ill it was thought that they were out of balance or that it was a case of spirit intervention or loss of the soul. They used rattle to summon powers from spirits and went into trance to communicate with the spirits. They also danced, drummed, and sang to bring the ill into balance.
Potlatch
Dancers at a potlatch
An important event in Northwest Coast native culture is the potlatch. Potlatchs were held to aknowledge important events such as the rise of a new cheif, a marraige, a birth, the death of an important figure, a change in status, a coming of age, or the building of a new house or canoe. Guests were invited from all over. Potlatches were occasions at which a cheif could demonstrate his wealth by giving gifts to guests. Gifts were given according to rank. Some gifts that a Chief would give include a canoe, slaves, blankets, dishes, and equipment. Chiefs could also give various songs, stories, and dances away .The more a chief gave the more prestige and honour he gained. Chiefs spent up to an year preparing for the potlatch and amassing wealth to give away. Chiefs may be left temporarily poor but he would gain his wealth back at another potlatch. The potlatch was also a method of distubing wealth. Potlaches included dancing, feasting, and singing. Potlatchs could last up to two to three weeks.
Other Ceremonies
Winter dancers
Winter Dances were perfomances with masked dancers that danced to create an illusion of death. The people also held a ceromony before fishing called the First Salmon Rite to thank the salmon spirits for food. The dignity potlatch is an intruiging event. These smaller potlatchs were held when an important person experienced a humuliating moment like falling out of a canoe. These potlatches allowed the person to regain some dignity.
Social Hierarchy
The Northwest Coast natives had a complex poltical system. The social heirarchy can be brocken down into four main tiers.
High:Elites-Wealthiest members who have earned status through heredity and potlatching.
Secondary: Respected members-Generally do not accumulate and distibute wealth through potlatch.
Low:Former slaves or people who have lost their prior status.
No status:Slaves and war captives-had no rights
A person can change their rank. They can rise their rank through amasing wealth, inheritance, and an acheivement. They can also lose their rank by losing wealth, or experiencing failure. The was no democracy in the Northwest Coast region, the wealthiest members of the society held power.In the Northern groups leadership was hereditary and in the southern groups status was determined through wealth. Extendended families were ruled by a Chief who had th closest link to the coommen anscestor. People in families were ranked based on their relashionship with the chief. The cheif had to distribute wealth among the familly. Wealth was disrtubuted acording to rank. Villages were groups of famillies. The fammilies were ranked in the village. The chief of the highest ranking familly would become the village chief.
High:Elites-Wealthiest members who have earned status through heredity and potlatching.
Secondary: Respected members-Generally do not accumulate and distibute wealth through potlatch.
Low:Former slaves or people who have lost their prior status.
No status:Slaves and war captives-had no rights
A person can change their rank. They can rise their rank through amasing wealth, inheritance, and an acheivement. They can also lose their rank by losing wealth, or experiencing failure. The was no democracy in the Northwest Coast region, the wealthiest members of the society held power.In the Northern groups leadership was hereditary and in the southern groups status was determined through wealth. Extendended families were ruled by a Chief who had th closest link to the coommen anscestor. People in families were ranked based on their relashionship with the chief. The cheif had to distribute wealth among the familly. Wealth was disrtubuted acording to rank. Villages were groups of famillies. The fammilies were ranked in the village. The chief of the highest ranking familly would become the village chief.
War
A Tlingit warrior
The natives of the Northwest Coast went to war for revenge and to aquire land, wealth, and slaves. The people of the Northwest Coast were succesful warriors becuase of their excellent seamanship skills and their well defended forts. The weapons and armour the warriors carried included a war dagger,bow and arrows, spears, wooden helmets and breastplate, and a thick warcoat made form sealion or elk hides. Warriors travelled in huge war canoes. Warriors fought for their clan chief.
Commerce
Eulachon
Trade between the northest coast groups had been going on for 10 000 years. Trade meetings were held before a deal to negotiate a price. Trade value was measured in blankets. An important trade item was Eulachon oil.
Art
Totempoles
Northwest Coast art is very distinct. The people are skilled carvers and craftsmen. The region is known for basket, hats, masks, totempoles, and weaved blankets. woodworking is very important in Northwest Coast culture. Totempoles display family crests, social status and history. They are painted in black, red, blue, white, and yellow. Masks were an important part in ceremonies and masks made of copper indicated wealth.
Kinship
The Northern groups such as the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimishian are Matrilineal meaning that descent from generation to generation is reckoned through the female line only. The Southern groups such as the Nookta and Coast Salish are Bilateral meaning that descent form generation to generation is reckoned through both male and female lines. The Kwaitul are Ambilineal meaning that descent is reckoned through the Male line OR the Female line.
Clans
An Eagle crest
The people of the Northwest Coast are divided into two or more moities. For example the Haida and Tlingit are either Ravens or Eagles. Each moiety includes many clans. Some clans in the Raven moiety include Frog, Goose, Owl, Salmon, Raven, Sea lion. Some clans in the Eagle Moiety include Auk, Bear, Eagle, Shark, Whale, Wolf. Each clan had its own set of crests.The Tsimishian have four moeities:raven, wolf, killer whale, eagle. Children become part of the mother's clan.
Marraige
A wedding party
Marraige was between people of different clans. The men paid a agreed amount of money to his wife's father when he wanted to wed her. After the couple had their first child the wife paid back the husband the equal amount of what he paid and could leave him or stay with him.
Familly orginization
Nookta women weaving
Men and women had specific roles in a family. The men would hunt, fish, buld, and carve. The women would do household chores such as cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the children. They also dug for clams and shellfish and gathered berries. The women made clothes and weaved.