Native Americans of the PNW Coastal Indians
Coastal Indians Agenda Preview Objective Notes on Coastal Indians 15 minutes to complete essay
Coastal Indians Preview of week Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Coyote Tales essay due One native’s critique of Migrational Hypotheses Coastal Indians (p. 94 – 114) Wednesday Coastal Indians finish (p. 94 – 114) Thursday Plateau Indians (p. 94 – 114) Friday Plateau Indians finish (p. 94 – 114)
Coastal Indians Location Place West of Cascades Permanent villages Small, isolated Near water sources What is the coastal climate like?
Coastal Indians Tribal units Chehalis Chinook Clallam Cowlitz Lummi Makah Nooksack
Coastal Indians Tribal/Political Structure Tribe Covered multiple villages Included multiple clans Clan: groups of related people (families) Primary political unit Permanent winter village A leader in each town (usually male) Each clan also had a leader
Coastal Indians Language Very diverse 45 distinct (if you include Canadian groups) In WA: spoke Salish
Coastal Indians Social Organization Males hunt/fish/hold political office Females care for children and gather roots, fruits and berries Three-tiered class system Nobility (chiefs and their peers) Commoners Slaves
Coastal Indians Warfare Somewhat common Raids on other villages Surprise attacks Kill men Take women and children as slaves Wooden armor was used for protection
Coastal Indians Marriage Usually arranged (remember Celilo?) Economic/political alliances Strengthen ties between other clans or tribes
Coastal Indians Clothing Summer time: Males wore cloths; Females wore skirts Winter time: capes, ponchos, robes, blankets Made from grass, cedar bark (vocab), dog hair
Cedar bark skirt P. 99
Coastal Indians Diet Cod Whale (Makah video) Shellfish Salmon Waterfowl (ducks, geese) Otter Deer Seal Elk Razor clams Bear Oysters Mountain sheep Smelt Mountain goats Abalone Halibut
Coastal Indians Shelter Long house/plank house (vocab) 40-100 feet long Multiple families
Coastal Indians Transportation Walking Canoes Horses (rarely)
Coastal Indians Tools and Implements Horns Animal bone and hair Wood Rock Grass Shells Adzes (vocab) Spears Clubs
Coastal Indians Recreation Athletic Races (canoe/foot) Wrestling Archery Riding Throwing Gambling (not so athletic)
Coastal Indians Religion Animism (vocab) Later: Christianity (Catholic , Protestant, Shakers)
Coastal Indians Potlatch (vocab) Usually held in winter Celebrate: birth, puberty, marriage, funeral Demonstrate wealth by giving Destroy some things to impress guests Challenge potlatches (competition to see who is better) Could be held by one family or entire villages