The Coastal Indians

Geography of the Coastal Indians

Geography of the Coastal Indians

Google Earth Map of the Puget Sound

Geography of the Coastal Indians

Terminology and Concepts

Political Organization • Tribe – A group of people that speak a similar language, share a common

culture and recognize one another as belonging to the same people.

• Band – A unit of political organization used by some tribes but not all.

• Village – The basic unit of political organization utilized by all Indian tribes.

• Chief – The recognized leader of an Indian political unit. The powers and status of a chief vary widely depending on culture region, tribe, and traditions. There are numerous chiefs at all levels of Indian organization.

Terminology and Concepts

Indian Spirituality • Believe in an extensive spiritual world – Everything has a spirit

• The world is multi-dimensional

• The spirit world interacts with the human world on a daily basis

• A successful life is about negotiating the needs and demands of the spirits

• Believe that the Earth is their mother and nourishes them

• As a result, they cannot own land – Cannot own their mother

• Deceased ancestors become part of the land and the spirit world

• Daily Life is a spiritual exercise, but there are some important festivals and periods in a person’s life

• Shaman – An individual who is perceived to have a special connection to the spirit world and can help interpret the will of the spirits and Earth.

Coastal Politics and Political Organization

• The Coastal Indians were organized into tribes

• Tribes were divided into villages

• Villages were largely autonomous

• Abundance of resources allowed Coastal Indians to be sedentary

• Also meant that they required smaller amounts of territory

• All villages headed by a chief

• Chiefs were male and hereditary positions

• Chiefs have vast political and legal powers

• Every village had a chief

• A tribe might have multiple chiefs; not all chiefs equal

Coastal Society

• Important to understand the definition of society

• Coastal society was quite rigid

• Defined social classes

• Social class determined by birth

• Coastal society was fairly patriarchal

• Coastal Social Classes: 1.) Chiefs

2.) Nobles

3.) Commoners

4.) Slaves

• Slavery a component of Northwest Coastal society and economy

• Slave raids and wars

Coastal Culture

Coastal Culture

The Totem Pole

• Totem Poles are commonly misunderstood

• Represent a family

• Every image is sacred to the family

• Has a spiritual component

• Work on a totem pole done in secret

• Craftsmen were highly respected

• Raising a totem pole required religious celebration

Whaling

The Potlatch

• Potlatch is a religious celebration unique to the Coastal Indians

• Potlatches could be called for any number of events

• Involved the giving away of wealth

• Demonstration of the wealth and power of a chief

• Sign of the material, cultural, and economic wealth of the Coastal Indians

• Involved song, dance, food, games, stories, and the like