The Kwakiutl
Climate/Environment
The climate of the Pacific Northwest includes mild temperatures and much rainfall. The area has many rivers and forests, which provided a rich supply of food and other natural resources.
Food
The main sources of food were salmon and animals from the ocean. The Kwakiutl built wooden fences across the river to trap fish. They also hunted and gathered roots and berries. Their main source of meat was caribou.
During the spring, summer, and fall, the Kwakiutl left their villages and settled near the rivers, where salmon, a type of fish, filled the streams. They would catch a surplus of fish, which means they had extra. They dried the extra fish and ate it during the winter.
Clothing
The Kwakiutl made their clothes out of animal skins. In addition, they also wove their clothing from wispy pieces of bark off of the cedar trees. They would soak the bark to soften it, and weave it into hats, capes, baskets, etc.
Shelter
The Kwakiutl built large homes made out of wood that they cut from cedar trees. These houses were called plank houses or long houses. As many as 50 members of the same clan lived together in one house. A clan is a group of related families.
Transportation
The Kwakiutl built canoes by hollowing out large cedar logs. These canoes were called dugouts.
The climate of the Pacific Northwest includes mild temperatures and much rainfall. The area has many rivers and forests, which provided a rich supply of food and other natural resources.
Food
The main sources of food were salmon and animals from the ocean. The Kwakiutl built wooden fences across the river to trap fish. They also hunted and gathered roots and berries. Their main source of meat was caribou.
During the spring, summer, and fall, the Kwakiutl left their villages and settled near the rivers, where salmon, a type of fish, filled the streams. They would catch a surplus of fish, which means they had extra. They dried the extra fish and ate it during the winter.
Clothing
The Kwakiutl made their clothes out of animal skins. In addition, they also wove their clothing from wispy pieces of bark off of the cedar trees. They would soak the bark to soften it, and weave it into hats, capes, baskets, etc.
Shelter
The Kwakiutl built large homes made out of wood that they cut from cedar trees. These houses were called plank houses or long houses. As many as 50 members of the same clan lived together in one house. A clan is a group of related families.
Transportation
The Kwakiutl built canoes by hollowing out large cedar logs. These canoes were called dugouts.
Beliefs
The Kwakiutl made totem poles by carving and painting cedar logs with figures of animals and humans that were of special interest to that family. The totems showed family beliefs and legends and told the heritage of that group. These often marked the entrance to their homes.
The Pacific Northwest Indians had large feasts to celebrate special events. This type of celebration was called a potlatch. The host of the potlatch gave valuable gifts to the guests.
Major Resources
Trees were a major resource for the Kwakiutl of the Pacific Northwest. They used trees for:
1. houses 4. Totem poles
2. fish traps 5. canoes or dugouts
3. clothing 6. tools and weapons for hunting
The Kwakiutl made totem poles by carving and painting cedar logs with figures of animals and humans that were of special interest to that family. The totems showed family beliefs and legends and told the heritage of that group. These often marked the entrance to their homes.
The Pacific Northwest Indians had large feasts to celebrate special events. This type of celebration was called a potlatch. The host of the potlatch gave valuable gifts to the guests.
Major Resources
Trees were a major resource for the Kwakiutl of the Pacific Northwest. They used trees for:
1. houses 4. Totem poles
2. fish traps 5. canoes or dugouts
3. clothing 6. tools and weapons for hunting