Northwest Coast

The Northwest Coast is continuously inhabited by First Nations over 10,000 years. It has moderate temperatures which allowed fishing and hunting all year round; therefore, it is the most suitable climates in Canada for living. This area is permanently settled because of it’s surplus amount of foods.

The Haida, Tsimshian, Nuu-chahnulth, Tlingit, and Salishan people live there. They have large celebrations and ceremonies consisting of pot latches, communal ritual of feasting, storytelling, dancing, and gift giving.

Fishing is a major food source for the Northwest Coast. Their main type of fish is salmon. They also eat other fishes, crabs, shellfish, seaweed, whales, clams, oysters, mussels and so on. It is almost impossible to starve in this region of Canada.

This picture is from:

http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_nwc5.html

This is a picture of a pacific salmon

First Nations of the Northwest Coast live in one location for a very long time because this region has a surplus amount of food. They live in longhouses because it support permanent residence.

Since this region of Canada is next to the Pacific Ocean and may rivers such as the Fraser River, they can use water bodies to their advantage for transportation. The easiest way to travel long distances is by canoe.

Most of the canoes are made of ceder. These type of trees can grow over 80 feet tall. The canoes are fairly long. They can reach up to 50 feet long. Each canoe can reach up to 2 – 50 people. It can also carry up to 10,000 pounds of cargo.

This picture is from:

http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_nwc5.html

This picture shows First Nations in the Northwest Coast travelling to a potlatch.

People of the Northwest Coast believed in animal spirits. The leaders who have lead the ceremonies are Shamans. They are known as magical healer or “Medicine Men”. They wear bearskin robes, aprons, rattles, skin drums, charms, necklaces and masks. They use their rattles to bring forth powers from the spiritual realm.