Introduction to the Cultures ofIntroduction to the Cultures ofNorth American Aboriginal PeoplesNorth American Aboriginal Peoples

The Northwest CoastThe Northwest Coast

Regional Characteristics:Regional Characteristics:The Northwest CoastThe 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

ClimateClimate

• 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; 123.06 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

FloraFlora

– 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 BarkRed Cedar Bark

Vegetational Zones of North Vegetational Zones of North AmericaAmerica

Northwest Coast fauna (1)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)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)Northwest Coast Fauna (3)

• Whales– Killer whale (Orcinus orca)– Gray whale

• Sea otters

• Salmon– Chum, pink, coho, chinook, sockeye

Diversity and density of resourcesDiversity and density of resources

• Disparity between marine and terrestrial resources– Terrestrial

• Low diversity, lower density

– Marine• Higher diversity, higher

density

Key characteristicsKey characteristics

• Salmon

• Food Storage

• Woodworking

• Sedentary villages

• Property ownership and wealth accumulation

• Status and rank– Potlatch

Division of laborDivision 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

DietDiet• 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

SalmonSalmon

• 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 storageFood 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

WoodworkingWoodworking• Trees are straight-grained softwoods• Narrow range of groundstone tools

– axes, adzes, hammers, wedges• Logs are split into planks

Woodworking IIWoodworking II

• Storage boxes– Bent wood

• Masks

• Totem poles

• Plank houses

• Canoes

Haida Totem poles - 1903Haida Totem poles - 1903

Haida totem poleHaida totem pole

Long housesLong houses• Post and

plank construction

• Square to rectangular

• Max. 30 m long, 8 m wide

• Occupied by a matrilineage

CanoesCanoes

• 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, hatMiscellaneous items: rattle, bowl, hat

Sedentary villagesSedentary 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 wealthProperty 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 RankStatus 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 RegaliaPotlatch Regalia