Peoples of the Northwest Coast

A narrow strip of land between British Columbia's Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean was, and still is, home to the peoples of the Northwest Coast. These peoples are:

• Coast Salish
• Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka)
• Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl)
• Haisla
• Heiltsuk (Bella Bella)
• Owekeeno
• Nuxalk (Bella Coola)
• Tsimshian
• Nisga'a
• Gitxsan
• Haida
• Tlingit

They are known for the totem poles they carved, the elaborate permanent villages, the sea-going canoes and ceremonial masks, and the potlatches they held.

Villages ranged from seven to thirty houses, with 200 to 1000 people in all. Totem poles were carved to serve different purposes. The clan or family poles had figures or animals, such as Bear, Wolf, Owl, Killer Whale, Eagle and Thunderbird. Mortuary poles often had a grave box at the top. Memorial poles were raised to remember a dead chief. There were also shaming and welcoming poles.

Fish was the main food. In some areas, salmon was the staple, in others, halibut. The cedar tree was a tree of life to the peoples of the Northwest Coast and they used it to build houses, canoes, totem poles, clothing and many other items. It was shown great respect by the people and they would place both hands on the trunk and say a prayer of thanks to the tree for giving so freely of itself.

To read the creation story go to www.civilization.ca/aborig/cxs/cxs01eng.html