How did the coast salish dress?

Answer 1

The Coast Salish people traditionally wore clothing made from materials readily available in their environment, such as animal skins, wool, and plant fibers. In warmer months, they often wore minimal clothing, such as woven grass or bark skirts for women, and men sometimes went without clothing or wore simple loincloths. In colder weather, they wore cloaks and capes made from animal hides like deer, otter, or seal skin, or woven from mountain goat wool and dog hair. These garments were often decorated with beads, shells, or other natural materials.

Woolen blankets and robes became a signature part of their clothing, particularly for ceremonial occasions. The Coast Salish were also known for their intricate weaving and basketry skills, using cedar bark and wool to create practical and decorative items. Later, after contact with Europeans, they began incorporating trade items like cotton, glass beads, and metal ornaments into their attire.

Their clothing was functional but also symbolic, with designs and decorations often reflecting their cultural beliefs and status.