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Chinook Indians
The Chinook - of the Upper Northwestern Coast - were the people for whom a wind, a jargon, and a giant salmon are named. They were early pioneers in trade with other Indian tribes and with French and English explorers and traders.
270 Questions
The word Chinook refers to the people of the lower mouth of the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon and the related languages. From that came the name of the trade language, the Chinook Jargon and the warming wind that melts snow. It comes from the name of a Lower Chehalis (Salishan) tribe village called /činúk/. Lewis and Clark first used it. The meaning is not known
What happened to the Chinook tribe?
The Chinook Indians have lived (and still do) in their ancestral homelands for about 10,000 years. The ancestral homeland of the Chinook people is:
From West to East from the mouth of the Columbia River East almost to the present day Portland, Orego. And from North to south from the present day Washington town of Grayland South to the Oregon town of Tillamook.
Today the tribal office is located in Bay Center, WA
Did the Chinook have a leader?
Each Chinook village had a headman, or chief. He (or she) was made leader because everyone in the village respected him.
A famous chief was Chief Concomly (1754 - 1830). He lived on the Columbia River at the present day Fort Columbia, across from Astoria, Oregon.
He is the most famous chief because of his location near the mouth of the Columbia River and he met most, if not all, of the traders from around the world and was the first Chinook headman they met.
What jobs or chores did Chinook children have?
Chinook women gathered food, such as wild plants, herbs and clams, and did most of the child raising and cooking. The men were fishermen and hunters, and they sometimes went to war to protect their families. Both men and women took part in trade, storytelling, artwork, music, and traditional medicine. The Chinook chief was always a man, but the clan leaders could be either men or women.
How did the Chinook tribe hair look like?
The first Chinook people hatched from thunder bird eggs in the time when the animals thought they were people. The Chinook people have been a tribe for 10,000 years... and still are!
What kind of toys did the Chinook Indian children play with?
Chinook children in the past had many chores to occupy their time, however, they did have dolls, carved toys and games that they played. A form of lacrosse was as popular among the Chinook teenagers as it was among the adult men.
What did the Chinook do for leisure?
Small children enjoyed dolls, toys and games. A form of lacrosse was popular among teenagers and adult men. Many Chinook children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers.
The Chinook fishermen made harpoons and nets. Hunters made bows and arrows, and trappers set snares. In times of war, Chinook men used their bows and arrows, or fought with spears and war clubs. Chinook warriors would wear armor made of hardened elk hide to protect themselves from the enemy archers.
What are the coastal tribes of Washington?
There are many Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest, particularly along the coast of Washington. Quileute, Tlingit, and Salish are the only three I know of, but I am sure there are at least 5-7 main tribal languages in that area and that's not counting any other Natives who live in that area, but are from tribes outside of those territories.
What job did Chinook children have?
The chinook children came home from school and they helped their mother to Clean up their houses
Who was the Chinook tribal leader how was he chose?
The Chinook people did not have one central Chief. Instead each village had a Chief. The Chief was head of the village because he (or she) was a good leader first and the son or a Chief second.
A famous Chinook Chief was Comcomly. He was Chief on the lower Columbia River at the time of Lewis & Clark. He was a skilled trader.
Now days the Chinook Indian Nation is lead by a Tribal Council which is elected by tribal members.
What is a potlatch in what culture area of north America was in originally practiced?
Potlatch originated in what is now known as the Pacific Northwest Among the tribes that lived along the puget sound and British Columbia coast. The primary tribes practicing potlatch were the Haida, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Salish
Were the Chinook's homes temporary or permanent?
Chinook houses were permanent. Houses were built of cedar planks and were up to 60 feet long.
What was the religion of the Chinooks?
The religion and faith of the Chinook was derived from their livelihood. Chinook religion focused on the First Salmon Rite, a ritual in which each group welcomed the annual salmon run.
Another important religious rite was the individual spirit quest, an ordeal undertaken by all male and some female adolescents to acquire guardian spirits that would give them hunting, curing, or other powers, bring them good luck, or teach them songs and dances. Singing ceremonies were public demonstrations of these gifts.
The Chinook also celebrated potlatches, which were ceremonial distributions of property.
What kind of art did Chinook Indians have?
Chinook armor made of elk skins were very popular and the CHinooks traded them for other goods.
Chinook baskets are woven so tightly that they can hold water. In fact Chinooks cooked in these baskets.
There are beautiful carved cups and bowls, combs, and toys too.
Who is the chief of the Chinook Indian tribe?
There is no "Chief" of the Chinook Tribe. The tribe is governed by a tribal council and, in 2013, the Chairman is a man named Ray Gardner.
In the past every village had a headman, or sometimes a headwoman. He would be the head of the village because he was a good leader, not just because of birthright.
What did the Chinook Indian girls wear?
Chinook people mostly were naked. Women wore a "modesty" skirt, a short skirt made of cedar bark. Everyone had a hat to keep the sun or rain out of their eyes and there were capes to wear in the winter.
What rituals do the Chinook Indians have?
In their daily lives, the Chinook people were led by a senior elder who was well respected in the community. Their religion and faith derived from their livelihood. Salmon fishing was a daily routine and they depended heavily on this fish. The Chinook also commonly held potlatches, which were ceremonial re-distributions of property among the people.
What was the Chinook Indians plants?
Chinook men were fishermen and hunters; women collected clams, herbs, wild roots and fruits. No crops of any kind were grown by any of the Chinook tribes, since there were a wide range of wild foods available to them (particularly fish such as salmon).
