PLATEAU PEOPLE

PLATEAU PEOPLE• Lived East of Cascades and West of the Rocky Mountains• Land and climate shaped lifestyle• Cold snowy winters• Hot dry summers

• Seasonal moves• Changes in clothing and shelter• Columbia River• Major transportation route• Most important food source

PLATEAU PEOPLE• Two Groups • Divided into two groups

• North Plateau spoke Salish• Spokane, Kalispel, Coeur d’Alene, Colville, etc.

• South Plateau spoke another• Nez Perce, Yakama, Palouse, Klickitat, etc.

• Influenced by both coastal and Plains Indians• Parts of Potlatch (Coastal)• Teepee (Plains)

• Semi-Nomadic• Winter Villages• Summer months in Teepees

PLATEAU PEOPLE• Pit Houses • Permanent homes used on Eastern edge of Cascades

• Enough people (20) = 1 day build• Steps• Large circle made (bark rope)• Circle dug, dirt removed by baskets• Green timber used as poles for roof support• Braces for roof put into ground• Hole left on top of roof• Grass mats, dirt, pine needles = roof• Top hole was “doorway.” ladder used• Fires on stone slab in center of Pit house

PLATEAU PEOPLE• Seasonal

Round• Nomads• Spring and summer• Women and Children dug Camas bulbs

• Late summer• Moved to Mountains (women/children)

• Huckleberries, etc.• Fishing sites (Men)

• Men caught Salmon• Women cleaned and prepared

• Dalles and Kettle Falls inter-tribal• Traded• Socialized

PLATEAU PEOPLE• Fall• Hunting (men)

• “Surround” a favorite method• No route for escape

• Winter• Back to main camp• Fix/make tools, clothing, etc.• Celebrations• Story telling• Hunting close to village

• If Camas cakes, dried food, etc. ran out…starvation

PLATEAU PEOPLE• Gender Roles

and Equality• Strict system of gender roles• Men’s work• Hunted/fished• Made tools/weapons• Built houses• Went to war (if necessary)

• Women’s work• Gathered roots/berries• Dried meat• Prepared skins• Made clothing• Cared for kids

PLATEAU PEOPLE• Much equality• Women held high status• Women free to reject suitor• Spokane women could propose

• In family, women ruled the house• Once food in house, it was property of the woman• Husband needed permission to eat ANYTHING!

PLATEAU PEOPLE• Material

Culture and Art

• Most time spent obtaining food• Little time for artistic pursuits• Practical items

• Mats• Baskets• Cradle boards• Beadwork • Clothing• canoes

PLATEAU PEOPLE• Religion • Creator = “Old Chief,” the “Ancient One,” or

“Father Mystery”• Young people went on vision quest• To find guardian spirit• Preparation started between 5 and 10 years old

(boys), 7-10 girls• Elders supervised

• Told what to do and expect

• Young adults went off alone and fasted• Sang and prayed for visitation of spirit• Spirit might be bear, beaver, sun, moon, deer,

etc.• Guardian spirit helped person throughout their

life

PLATEAU PEOPLE• Spirit power central religious belief• All events (significant or unusual) explained this way• Those with greatest spirit power became Shamans (medicine

men) • Most important power was healing sick

• Smallpox/measles• Shamans couldn’t heal• Many died• Many leaders turned to white men

• Rich material culture must mean great spirit power

PLATEAU PEOPLE

THE END