Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast
The Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, their descendants, and many ethnic groups who identify with those historical peoples. They are now situated within the Canadian Province of British Columbia, and the U.S. states of Alaska, Washington and Oregon.
History
European Colonization
Current times
Since
Culture
The Potlatch
- Main article: Potlatch
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A potlatch is a highly complex event or ceremony among some of the indigenous people in this region. The term potlatch means 'to give', in the Chinook trading language. Prior to European contact the feast's and potlatches played a major part in cementing Northwest Coast cultures. Without a written language, oral oratory in front of witness was used to lay claim to governance, economic, social status and was expression of spiritual practice and beliefs. A feast always involved great pomp and ceremony and included celebration of births, rites of passages, weddings, funerals, puberty,and honoring of the deceased, claims to territory, clan and crest names. The witnesses, who were either would be disguised or would just be the invited guests, were then richly compensated with gifts according to the rank of each guest in thanks for attending and witnessing the claims. Through political, economic and social exchange, it was the most vital part of Pacific Northwest Coast indigenous culture. Although protocol differed somewhat, the potlatch most often involved music, dance, theatricality and spiritual ceremonies. In current times, the feast no longer carries the vital importance it once enjoyed and much smaller versions are occasionally celebrated.
Music
Among the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, the music varied in function and expression. As some groups have more cultural differences then the rest (like the Coast Salish and the more northern nations), there remains a lot of similarities.
Some instruments used by the indigenous were hand drums made of animal hides, plank drums, log drums, box drums, along with whistlers, wood clappers, and rattles. A great deal of the instruments were used mostly in the potlatch, but also carried over in to other festivities through out the year.
The songs employed are used with dancing, although it is also for celebration chants or games, which would not usually be accompanied by dancing. Most singing is community based, there are some solo parts, usually the first line of each round of a song, but not long solos. Although for some ceremonies solo songs would be used by men and women without the accompaniment of any person or instrument.
Usually slow in tempo and accompanied by a drum. Principle function of music in this area is spiritual; music honors the Earth, Creator, Ancestors, all aspects of the supernatural world. Sacred songs are not often shared with the wider world. Women and men, families own their own songs as property which can be inherited, sold or given as a gift to a prestigious guest at a Feast. Professionals existed for some communities, but music is taught and then rehearsed. For some nations, the tradition was those who made musical errors were punished, usually through shaming. Employing octave singing, but rather than running up and down the scale, it is not uncommon to jump notes and go from bottom to top or top to bottom in a couple of notes. Vocal Rhythmic patterns are often complex and run counter to rigid percussion beats.
Art
The creation of beautiful and practical objects (for all tribal communities) served as a means of transmitting stories, history, wisdom and property from generation to generation. Art provided Indigenous people with a tie to the land by depicting their histories on cave walls; totem poles; the Big (Plank) Houses of the Pacific Northwest coast; buffalo hides; long houses; tipis – the symbols depicted were a constant reminder of their birth places, lineages and nations.
It is important to note, however, that generally speaking art was not produced for aesthetic reasons. Time was always an issue, as there was much to do to keep tribal communities healthy and safe for another day. Therefore, the emphasis was placed on practical uses of items, such as clothing, tools, weapons of war and hunting, transportation, and shelter.
Pacific Northwest Coast: Spiritualism, the supernatural and the importance of the environment played integral roles in day-to-day life. Therefore, it was not unusual for their worldly goods to be adorned with symbols, crests and totems that represented some important figure(s) from both the seen and unseen worlds.
Often different northern tribes would adorn their possessions with symbols that represented a tribe as a collective (i.e., clan); this would often be a signal of differentiation among tribal groups. Such symbols could be compared to a coat of arms, or running up the flag of a country on a sailing ship, as it approached a harbour.
After the arrival of the Europeans, Indigenous artifacts suddenly became a hot commodity to be collected and placed in museums and other institutions, and many tribal groups were looted of their precious items by over-zealous collectors.
It is only in recent years that many Native organizations have been calling for a return of some of their sacred items, such as medicine bundles, that symbolize their cultural heritage.
Nations
The indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast were at one time the highest populated for indigenous people. [citation needed] The land provided rich natural resources through cedar and salmon for highly structured cultures. Within the Pacific Northwest many different nations developed, each with their own distinct history, culture, and society. Although some cultures in this reigion were very similar, others differed. Prior to contact, and for brief time after colonization, some of these groups were still at war with each other through raids and attacks.
Tlin'git
- Main article: Tlingit
The Tlingit (IPA: /'klɪŋkɪt/, also /-gɪt/ or /'tlɪŋkɪt/ which is often considered inaccurate) are one of the furthest north indigenous nations in the Pacific Northwest Coast. Their name for themselves is Lingít (/ɬɪŋkɪt/) , meaning "people". The Russian name Koloshi (from an Aleut term for the labret) or the related German name Koulischen may be encountered in older historical literature.
The Tlingit are a matrilineal society who developed a complex hunter-gatherer culture in the temperate rainforest of the southeast Alaska coast and the Alexander Archipelago.
Nisga'a
- Main article: Nisga'a
The Nisga'a (pronounced Nis-gah) are a matrilineal society with a complex culture. They live in the Nass River valley of northwestern British Columbia. Nisg̱a'a society is organized into four clans: Ganada (Raven), Gisk'aast (Killer Whale), Lax̱gibuu (Wolf), and Lax̱sgiik (Eagle). The Nisg̱a'a people number about 6,000. In British Columbia the Nisg̱a'a Nation is represented by four Villages and 3 urban societies. The Nisga'a are one of the few indigenous in the Pacific Northwest in Canada to sign a treaty with Canada
Haida
- Main article: Haida
The Haida people are well known as skilled artisans of wood, metal and design. They have also shown much perseverance and resolve in the area of forest conservation. These vast forests of cedar and spruce where the Haida make their home are on pre-glacial land which is believed to be almost 14,000 years old. Haida communities located in Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, and the Queen Charlotte Islands also share a common border with other indigenous peoples such as the Tlingit and the Cape Fox tribes of the Tsimshian.
Tsimshian
- Main article: Tsimshian
The Tsimshian, usually pronounced in English as /'sɪm.ʃi.æn/ (SIM-shee-an), translated as "People Inside the Skeena River," are indigenous people who live around Terrace and Prince Rupert, on the north coast of British Columbia and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. Currently there are about 10,000 Tsimshians, of which about 1,300 live in Alaska. Along with many other indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast, they have a deeply hierarchical society. Succession was matrilineal, and one's place in society was determined by one's clan or phratry (defined as four equal parts). The four main Tsimshian clans that form the basic phratry are the Laxsgiik (Eagle Clan), Ganhada (Raven Clan) which form one half of the phratry. Gispwudwada (Killerwhale Clan) and Laxgibuu (Wolf Clan)form the other half. Prior to European contact, marriage in Tsimshian society could not take place within a group, for example between a Wolf and a Killer Whale. It was thought to be incest even if there was no blood relation. Marriages were only arranged between a Killer Whale and a Raven or Eagle.
Haisla
- Main article: Haisla
The Haisla (also Xa’islak’ala, X̄a’islak̕ala, X̌àʔislak̕ala, X̄a’islak’ala, X̣aʔislak’ala, Xa'islak'ala) are an indigenous nation living at Kitamaat in the North Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The name Haisla is derived from the Haisla word x̣àʔisla or x̣àʔisəla '(those) living at the rivermouth, living downriver'
Heiltsuk
- Main article: Heiltsuk
The Heiltsuk (pronounced: /ˈheil.ʦʊk/) are an indigenous nation of the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, centred on the island communities of Bella Bella and Klemtu. The Heiltsuk are comprised of the descendants of a number of tribal groups who came together in Bella Bella in the 19th Century and came to be called the Bella Bella Indians. They generally refer to themselves as Heiltsuk.
Wuikinuxv
- Main article: Wuikinuxv
Kwakwaka'wakw
- Main article: Kwakwaka'wakw
The Kwakwaka'wakw are an indigenous people, numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the mainland. The term they prefer to describe themselves is Kwakwaka'wakw. Their indigenous language, part of the Wakashan family, is Kwak'wala. The name Kwakwaka'wakw renders into "speakers of Kwak'wala". The language is now spoken by less than 5% of the population--about 250 people. There are 17 separate tribes that make up the Kwakwaka'wakw, who all speak the common language of kwak'wala.
Nuu-chah-nulth
- Main article: Nuu-chah-nulth
The Nuu-chah-nulth (pronounced [nuːʧanˀuɬ], or approximately "new-cha-nulth") are indigenous peoples in Canada. Their traditional home is in the Pacific Northwest on the west coast of Vancouver Island. In pre-contact and early post-contact times, the number of nations was much greater, but like the rest of the reigon, smallpox and other consequences of contact resulted in the disappearance of some groups, and the absorption of others into neighbouring groups. They were among the first Pacific peoples north of California to come into contact with Europeans. Competition between Spain and the United Kingdom over control of Nootka Sound led to a bitter international dispute around 1790, which was settled when Spain agreed to abandon its exclusive claims to the North Pacific coast.
Coast Salish
- Main article: Coast Salish
The Coast Salish are indigenous of the southern groups. Their territory spans from the northern limit of the Gulf of Georgia on the inside of Vancouver Island and covering most of southern Vancouver Island, as
well as all of Puget Sound except for the Chemakum
territory near Port Townsend, and all of the Olympic Peninsula except the Quileute, who are related to
the Chemakum. The Tillamook or
Nuxálk
- Main article: Nuxálk
The Nuxálk (pronounced /nuxalk/) are an indigenous people of the Central Coast and the furthest north of the Coast Salish cultures, although linguists theory now assigns them as independent of both Interior and Coast Salish language groups. Their language is a Salishan language, and very different from that of their coastal neighbours, and is now believed to have been more related to Interior Salish before the Athapaskan groups now inland from them spread southwards.
Notes
See also
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