The people of the NW Coast

1. The people of the NW Coast SS 9 Ms. Pakkar

2. Totem Poles • The PPL of the NW Coast were talented artists • One of their most known works is the totem pole (handout) • Some examples: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=648gwElcPzU

3. Location • West coast of BC • Most diverse of all FN ppl in terms of language – over 19 • About 70 different Nations

4. Housing – permanent • The NW Coast PPL were able to live in permanent settlements because food was available all year round • They lived in longhouses AKA “big houses” Longhouses in Ksan Village

5. “The Big House” • Made of cedar planks cut with stone axes • 50-150 feet long, 20-60 feet wide • Housed several families in one Kwakwakw'wakw house front

6. The Inside • Bunk beds against one wall with storage area above • Each family had their own small fire pit for cooking

7. Food – hunter gatherers • Hunting, fishing, and gathering edible roots • Agriculture never needed because of the food available to them by nature

8. Fishing • The NW Coast PPL were skilled fishermen because of their understanding of waterways • Primarily caught Pacific salmon in the Pacific Ocean (main source) • Used harpoons, nets, and traps – plentiful during the fall (1000s in a small area – enough for a year) Nuu-chah-nulth man fishing with a net

9. Fishing Continued • Used canoes made of cedar for transportation • Other sea animals: whales, seaweed, sea otters, turtles, crab, etc. and oils (good trade item) Kwakwakw'wakw Canoe

10. Hunting – mostly summer time • Hunted black-tailed deer, elk, bear, mountain goat in nearby forests

11. Religion and Culture • Oral tradition (stories), dance, song • Creation stories about the creation of parts of nature and why events occurred eg. change in seasons • Belief that humans are surrounded by the supernatural always – spirits connected to all living things • Shaman – the only connection to the spirit and natural world

12. The Shaman or “Medicine Man” • Shaman’s jobs: (1) cure the sick (2) make sure there’s enough food (3) influence the weather • All of these jobs were completed through communication with the spirit world • Used rattles as a communication tool with the spirits Gitksan woman Shaman

13. Potlatch Ceremony • Means, “to give” • Big celebration – often took a year to plan • Celebrated a person's change in social status ie. marriage, birth, death, and coming of age • Included large feast, singing, costume dancing • Some potlatches lasted 2-3 weeks

14. A Celebration of Wealth • Potlatches became a way of individual’s showing off their wealth • Every person in attendance received gifts related to their social rank. Eg. canoes, slaves, carved dishes, and eulachon oil. • The more wealth that a family gave away (as gifts), the more prestige was bestowed on them. Potlatch dancers

15. Clothing • The PPL of the NW Coast wore little clothing in general • Warmer months  men would often go naked, & women would only wear bark skirts. • Women made most of the clothing out of softened cedar wood or bark, animal leather, and wool. Salish goat wool coat