1. Coastal and Plateau Indians
Northwest Studies Summer School

2. Arrival In Washington
The first Native Americans arrived in the present day state of Washington around 10,000 years ago.
They hunted using stone tools and weapons, created shelters, and gathered edible plants and fruits.
The first people living in North America are referred to as the Clovis.
As people began to spread out and adapt to the different environments of North America different cultures developed.
The oldest Clovis evidence found in Washington was in East Wenatchee and is dated at years old.

3. Two Distinct Cultures Develop
In the Northwest there are two distinct Native Cultures that developed.
The Coastal Indians
The Plateau Indians
Both groups developed there own ideas and ways of life based on their surrounding areas.
Both have left distinct marks on the History of the area

4. Coastal Indians
The Coastal Indians lived west of the Cascade mountains
The Coastal Indians are not one unified tribe, but instead they are many different peoples that share similarities based on their lifestyle and location.
Each coastal tribe has its own customs and traditions.
Yet they share the similarities of tribes that have the same climate and vegetation.
Water plays a key role in nearly all coastal societies as the abundance of fish and lush vegetation provided plenty of food to sustain their society.

5. Coastal Society
Coastal Society was very strict with its social classes and there were 4 distinct classes.
Chief - The highest class. A hereditary position that was passed down. They were always the wealthiest. They led society and made nearly all of the decisions.
Nobles – The extended family of the Chief and others who had wealth. Nobles advised the Chief and were the warriors and hunters of the tribe. Noble women were held in high esteem. They raised their families but performed no manual labor. They had slaves to fulfill those tasks.
Commoners – Commoners were craftsmen and laborers. They cound not control land. In return for their good they were allowed to fish and gather food on the land of the nobles.
Slaves – Slaves had virtually no rights as humans. Slaves were viewed as property. Slaves were gathered in warfare or from tribes who specialized in the slave trade. A slave could be released by their owner but it was rare.

6. Coastal Economy
The most important economic activity was that of gathering food for the tribe.
Food sources included:
Whale
Salmon
Otter
Seal
Small birds
Deer
Elk
They used smoke houses to prepare and preserve their foods.
Due to the abundance of food tribes rarely needed to go far for food. This results in tribes not needing to spread out and take more land.

7. Coastal Culture Totem Poles Clothing
Totem pole were designed as great displays of wealth.
They are unique and specific to individual families.
Only noble families could afford Totem poles.
Each figure on a totem pole represents an animal, myth, or story sacred to the history of the particular family
Certain families would claim the use of specific animals and it would be considered an insult to use another families depiction.
Clothing
The Coastal Indians used what materials that were available for clothes.
In the summertime they wore very little.
In the rainy times and winter they wore ponchos, capes, robes and blankets made from animal skin.
They also wove clothes using dog hair and reeds which also would be colored.

8. Coastal Shelter and Transportation
Most Coastal Indians lived in Longhouses.
40 to 100 feet long and feet wide made of cedar planks or logs.
They had no windows, and a small opening at the top to let out smoke.
Several Families lived on 1 longhouse.
Transportation
Most Coastal Indians traveled by Dugout Canoe.
They were excellent canoe builders
Canoes were used on lakes, rivers and the ocean.
They were used to gather food, for war, and for trade.

9. Coastal Religion
There religion was based upon worship and respect for nature and the environment.
They believed everything in nature from animals, plants and landforms possessed a spirit.
These spirits would directly influence human life.
For example if the tribe showed respect for an animal when it killed it, the spirit would continue to allow the tribe to use it as a source of food.
Shamans were spiritual leaders who would help to ensure that the tribe would remain in the favor of the spirits.
Shamans would lead various ceremonies which would include singing, dancing, prayer and games.
Marriage, funerals, hunting, thanksgiving and many more were reasons for ceremonies.
Potlatch
The Potlatch was a ceremony hosted by the Chief.
The object of the Potlatch was for a Chief to demonstrate his power and wealth

10. The Plateau Indians
Plateau Indians lived East of the Cascade mountains into northern Oregon, Western Idaho and Montana.
Plateau Indians were grouped into tribes like the Coastal Indians. However, Plateau tribes contained more people and covered greater geographic areas.
Plateau tribes were divided into Bands. Bands inhabited specific regions of tribal area.
Bands were further divided into villages which were extended family groups.
Villages were mostly self sufficient and could make their own decisions.
Villages only gathered into the larger Bands for religious ceremonies, celebrations, fishing, hunting or war.
Bands came together into the tribe only at times of necessity such as important decisions and war.

11. Plateau Society Plateau tribes did not have a strict society
The highest social position was that of Chief.
Chiefs were not determined by birth, but by ability. Birth could give an advantage to being chief but abilities and skills were much more valued.
More like an elected position
Chiefs existed at tribal, band and village levels.
These Chiefs would represent their bands and villages in trade and war negotiations.
When Bands came together they would choose the most respected village chiefs to represent them.
There were no real social classes in Plateau society.
People earned their place in society based upon there own merits as hunters, warriors, leaders and spiritual advisors
Most villages and bands had councils.
Councils were made up of elders, chiefs, and shamans to make local decisions
Therefore Plateau society was much more democratic than coastal society

12. Plateau Economy and Diet
Plateau economics were similar to that of the coastal. Food equaled power.
Also though the Plateau were skilled at breeding animals especially horses. Horses were introduced to the Plateau tribes in the 1700s and this allowed them to travel greater distances and hunt larger game.
Plateau people were nomadic. They moved where the food was. Unlike the coastal tribes, food was more scarce.
Plateau lifestyle was much harsher than coastal and there was more fierce competition for food and resources.
Salmon was an important food source during spawning season in the rivers.
Plateau tribes would also travel as far as the great plains to hunt buffalo

13. Plateau Clothing and Shelter
Plateau Indians wore clothing made from animal skins fur pelts, dog hair, and grass.
The materials reflected their environment. They wore lighter clothes in the summer and heavier clothes during the harsh winter.
They made brightly colored headdresses for tribal ceremonies and times of war.
Plateau shelters were designed to be able to be put up and taken down quickly so they could move at a moments notice. The majority of Plateau Indians lived in Tepees.
During harsh winters they used caves or constructed pit houses. A pit house would be dug 5 or 6 feet deep and then covered on top with animal skins.

14. Plateau Transportation and Religion
Before the arrival of the horse. Plateau tribes traveled by foot. The horse great increased their mobility and changed their culture.
The horse became the most prized possessions of the villages.
The number of horses owned often reflected the wealth and power of the village.
To haul their possessions, a horse or dog would drag a travois. This was two long poles strapped to the animal with leather straps.
For religion the Plateau tribes like the coastal tribes worshiped spirits and the natural world.
Plateau Indians performed important ceremonies, songs, dances, and offerings in order to promote harmony between spirits and humans.
The Shaman was the most important spiritual figure.
Plateau tribes also had special locations where the spirits were especially strong.
Just as Coastal tribes had potlatch’s, The Plateau had Pow Wows.
A Pow Wow was a great social and religious gathering in which villages, Bands and tribes would come together.
Pow wows were different though from potlatches as Pow Wows were not about giving gifts or social status.
Pow Wows involved games, feasting, dancing, songs, and sacred ceremonies.
Pow Wows could last several days