The Nootka Indians

By Chris Myers & Tiffany Oickle

Historical Background

Also known as the Nuu-chah-nulth

Lived along the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada and the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state

Was first applied as a tribal name explorer Captain James Cook.

Culture

Each Nootka was ranked in society

were famous for their potlatch ceremonies, in which the host would honor guests with gifts.

were one of the few groups on the Pacific Coast who hunted whales

Religious Practices

No worship of a god Had three main

rituals 1.)ensuring good luck in all the numerous extensions that nature has to be coped with by man2.) rights and privileges3.) curing of the ill

Clothing

When cool out,they wore ceder bark robes

only difference between genre was the women also had an additional bark apron

When cold richer people wore sea otter and bear furs, people of low wealth wore robes made from raccoons, wildcats and other small animals

Clothing cont.

When warm, men would only wear ornaments while the women would wear skirts made from cedar bark

They wore cone-shaped hats

Housing

40 to 100 feet in length and 30 to 40 feet in width

constructed with removable plank roofing and siding

in fall and spring the homes would often be moved from village to village in the seasonal shifting of residences

in sinter and summer they were occupied and was used for the most important fishing stations

Family Life

just after children reached puberty their parents would arranged their marriages

it was also about the alliance between the two families, not just about the two getting married

the boy and his family would make visits to the girls house and try to win her and her family over

Family Life Cont.

children were never spanked or slapped, just talked to when bad

childbirth was a very special thing to them

they had a special hut that was just for childbirth were every baby was born

Language

They spoke Nuu-Chah-Nulth

It means "along the mountains"

is a Wakashan language of the Northwest Coast

References

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/northamerica/nootka.html

http://www.vancouverisland.com/Regions/towns/?townID=68

http://www.native-languages.org/nootka.htm http://www.rlc.dcccd.edu/mathsci/anth/homepage/

parsons/dream.htm

References cont.

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