Chief Anotklosh of the Taku Tribe, ca. 1913

The Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, their descendants, and many ethnic groups who identify with those historical peoples. They are now situated with the Canadian Province of British Columbia, and the American states of Alaska, Washington and Oregon. The Taku are an American Native people, now generally included with or known as the Tlingit. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Pacific Northwest from space This page is about the region that includes parts of Canada and the United States. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area Ranked 4th - Total 944,735 km... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) English Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Area  Ranked 18th  - Total 71,342 sq mi (184,827 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 6. ... Official language(s) None Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ...

History

European Colonization

Current times

Since colonization, the political and current context of life for these Indigenous peoples varies, especially considering their nation-state entities of Canada and the US.

Culture

The Potlatch

Main article: Potlatch

The Kwakwaka'wakw continue the practice of potlatch. Illustrated here is Wawadit'la in Thunderbird Park, Victoria, BC, (aka Mungo Martin House) a Kwakwaka'wakw "big house" built by Chief Mungo Martin in 1953. Very wealthy, that is, prominent, hosts would have a longhouse specifically for potlatching and for housing guests.

A potlatch is a highly complex event or ceremony among certain these Indigenous. It takes it's place being a major part of the culture of the Indigenous in this region. The potlatch takes the form of governance, economy, social status and continuing spiritual practices. A potlatch, usually involving ceremony, includes celebration of births, rites of passages, weddings, funerals, puberty,and honoring of the deceased. Through political, economic and social exchange, it is a vital part of these Indigenous people's culture. Although protocol differs among the Indigenous nations, the potlatch could involve a feast, with music, dance, theatricality and spiritual ceremonies. In current times, the potlatch has varying levels of importance in Indigenous communities, as in some places it's still used for the traditional means, but in others it's now a theatrical presentation through dance groups. The Kwakwakawakw continue the practice of potlatch. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2132x1629, 2240 KB) Summary Thunderbird Park, 2006. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2132x1629, 2240 KB) Summary Thunderbird Park, 2006. ... Kwakwakawakw (also Kwakiutl, pronounced Kwa-gyu-thl) is a term used to describe a group of Canadian First Nations people, numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the mainland. ... Thunderbird Park is a park in Victoria, British Columbia located next to the Royal British Columbia Museum. ... Victoria is the capital of the western Canadian province of British Columbia. ...

Music

Art

Nations

The Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast were at one time the highest populated for Indigenous people. The land provided rich resources through cedar and salmon for highly structured cultures. Within the Pacific Northwest many different nations developed, each with their own distinct history, culture, and society. Although some cultures in this reigion were very similar, others differed. Prior to contact, and for brief time after colonization, some of these groups were still at war with each other through raids and attacks.

Tlin'git

Main article: Tlingit

The Tlingit (IPA: /'klɪŋkɪt/, also /-gɪt/ or /'tlɪŋkɪt/ which is often considered inaccurate) are one of the furthest north Indigenous nations in the Pacific Northwest Coast. Their name for themselves is Lingít (/ɬɪŋkɪt/) , meaning "people". The Russian name Koloshi (from an Aleut term for the labret) or the related German name Koulischen may be encountered in older historical literature. A Tlingit totem pole in Ketchikan ca. ...

The Tlingit are a matrilineal society who developed a complex hunter-gatherer culture in the temperate rainforest of the southeast Alaska coast and the Alexander Archipelago.

Nisga'a

Main article: Nisga'a

The Nisga'a (pronounced Nis-gah) are a matrilineal society with a complex culture. They live in the Nass River valley of northwestern British Columbia. Nisg̱a'a society is organized into four clans: Ganada (Raven), Gisk'aast (Killer Whale), Lax̱gibuu (Wolf), and Lax̱sgiik (Eagle). The Nisg̱a'a people number about 6,000. In British Columbia the Nisg̱a'a Nation is represented by four Villages and 3 urban societies. The Nisga'a are one of the few Indigenous in the Pacific Northwest in Canada to sign a treaty with Canada Nisgaa flag Mask with open eyes, worn during winter halait ceremonies, 18th–early 19th century The Nisaa (pronounced Nis-gah) are of the First Nations of Canada. ...

Haida

Main article: Haida

The Haida people are well known as skilled artisans of wood, metal and design. They have also shown much perseverance and resolve in the area of forest conservation. These vast forests of cedar and spruce where the Haida make their home are on pre-glacial land which is believed to be almost 14,000 years old. Haida communities located in Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, and the Queen Charlotte Islands also share a common border with other indigenous peoples such as the Tlingit and the Cape Fox tribes of the Tsimshian. {{ethnic group| |group=Haida |image= |poptime=c. ...

Tsimshian

Main article: Tsimshian

The Tsimshian, usually pronounced in English as /'sɪm.ʃi.æn/ (SIM-shee-an), translated as "People Inside the Skeena River," are Indigenous people who live around Terrace and Prince Rupert, on the north coast of British Columbia and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. Currently there are about 10,000 Tsimshians, of which about 1,300 live in Alaska. Along with many other Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast, they have a deeply hierarchical society. Succession was matrilineal, and one's place in society was determined by one's clan or phratry (known as pteex). The Tsimshian clans are the Laxsgiik (Eagle Clan), Gispwudwada (Killerwhale Clan), Ganhada (Raven Clan) and Laxgibuu (Wolf Clan). Marriage in Tsimshian society must take place between members of different clans. The lord of a village was the head of the strongest clan, with the less powerful clan heads forming his council of the nobility. The Tsimshian (usually pronounced in English SIM-shee-an), translated as People Inside the Skeena River, are a Native American and First Nation people who live around Terrace and Prince Rupert, on the north coast of British Columbia and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. ...

Haisla

Main article: Haisla

The Haisla (also Xa’islak’ala, X̄a’islak̕ala, X̌àʔislak̕ala, X̄a’islak’ala, X̣aʔislak’ala, Xa'islak'ala) are an Indigenous nation living at Kitamaat in the North Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The name Haisla is derived from the Haisla word x̣àʔisla or x̣àʔisəla '(those) living at the rivermouth, living downriver' The Haisla (also Xa’islak’ala, X̄a’islak̕ala, X̌àʔislak̕ala, X̄a’islak’ala, X̣aʔislak’ala, Xaislakala) are a First Nation people living at Kitamaat in British Columbia. ...

Heiltsuk

Main article: Heiltsuk

The Heiltsuk (pronounced: /ˈheil.ʦʊk/) are an Indigenous nation of the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, centred on the island communities of Bella Bella and Klemtu. The Heiltsuk are comprised of the descendants of a number of tribal groups who came together in Bella Bella in the 19th Century and came to be called the Bella Bella Indians. They generally refer to themselves as Heiltsuk. Heiltsuk (pronounced HAIL-tsuk)(also Bella Bella) is a dialect (or a sublanguage) of the North Wakashan (Kwakiutlan) language Heiltsuk-Oowekyala that is spoken by a few Haihai and Bella Bella Native Americans around Bella Bella and Klemtu, British Columbia. ...

Wuikinuxv

Main article: Wuikinuxv

The Wuikinuxv people also known as the Wuikenukv, Oweekeno, Wikeno, Owikeno, Oowekeeno, Oweekano, Awikenox, or Rivers Inlet people, are a First Nations people of the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, located around Rivers Inlet and Owikeno Lake, to the north of Queen Charlotte Strait. ...

Kwakwaka'wakw

Main article: Kwakwaka'wakw

The Kwakwaka'wakw are an Indigenous people, numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the mainland. The term they prefer to describe themselves is Kwakwaka'wakw, with their Indigenous language, part of the Wakashan family, is Kwak'wala. The name Kwakwaka'wakw renders into speakers of Kwak'wala). The language is now spoken by less than 5% of the population--about 250 people. There are 17 separate tribes that make up the Kwakwaka'wakw, who all speak the common language of kwak'wala. Kwakwakawakw (also Kwakiutl, pronounced Kwa-gyu-thl) is a term used to describe a group of Canadian First Nations people, numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the mainland. ... Kwakwala is a Wakashan language spoken by the Kwakwakawakw and Laich-kwil-tach (Euclataws or Southern Kwakiutl) people of northern Vancouver Island. ... Kwakwala is a Wakashan language spoken by the Kwakwakawakw and Laich-kwil-tach (Euclataws or Southern Kwakiutl) people of northern Vancouver Island. ...

Nuu-chah-nulth

Main article: Nuu-chah-nulth

The Nuu-chah-nulth (pronounced [nuːʧanˀuɬ], or approximately "new-cha-nulth")are Indigenous peoples in Canada. Their traditional home is in the Pacific Northwest on the west coast of Vancouver Island. In pre-contact and early post-contact times, the number of nations was much greater, but like the rest of the reigon, smallpox and other consequences of contact resulted in the disappearance of some groups, and the absorption of others into neighbouring groups. They were among the first Pacific peoples north of California to come into contact with Europeans. Competition between Spain and the United Kingdom over control of Nootka Sound led to a bitter international dispute around 1790, which was settled when Spain agreed to abandon its exclusive claims to the North Pacific coast. The Nuu-chah-nulth (pronounced New-cha-nulth) (also formerly referred to as the Nootka, Nutka, Aht, West Coast, T’aat’aaqsapa, Nuuchahnulth) people are indigenous peoples of Canada. ...

Coast Salish

Main article: Coast Salish

The Coast Salish are Indigenous of the southern groups. Their territory spans from the northern limit of the Gulf of Georgia on the inside of Vancouver Island and covering most of southern Vancouver Island, as well as all of Puget Sound except for the Chemakum territory near Port Townsend, and all of the Olympic Peninsula except the Quileute, who are related to the Chemakum. The Tillamook or Nehalem around Tillamook, Oregon are the southermost of the Coast Salish peoples Within the Coast Salish their are many independent groups and subgroups within that. The Coast Salish cultures differs considerably from their northern neighbours. It is one of the few Indigenous cultures along the coast with a patrilineal, not matrilineal, culture. They are also one of the few peoples on the coast to be situations in major metropolitan areas, such as Victoria, Vancouver, and Seattle. The Coast Salish are a group of Salishan-speaking First Nations/Native American in British Columbia and Washington. ... area between vancouver island and british columbia ... Puget Sound Puget Sound (pronounced IPA ) is a sound connected to the Pacific Ocean via the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. ... Chemakum (English pronunciation: [ˈʧɛməkəm]) (also written as Chimakum or Chimacum) were a Native American group that once lived on western Washington states Olympic Peninsula. ... Port Townsend is a city located in Jefferson County, Washington. ... The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. ... Quileute is a group of Native American peoples from western Washington state in the United States. ... Chemakum (English pronunciation: [ˈʧɛməkəm]) (also written as Chimakum or Chimacum) were a Native American group that once lived on western Washington states Olympic Peninsula. ... Nehalem can refer to several things: The Nehalem are a tribe of native Americans peoples who lived in the Pacific Northwest. ... Tillamook (IPA: ) is the county seat of Tillamook County, Oregon. ... Victoria is the capital of the western Canadian province of British Columbia. ... Vancouver (pronounced: ) is a city in south-western British Columbia, Canada. ... City nickname Emerald City City bird Great Blue Heron City flower Dahlia City mottos The City of Flowers The City of Goodwill City song Seattle, the Peerless City Mayor Greg Nickels County King County Area   - Total   - Land   - Water   - % water 369. ...

Nuxálk

Main article: Nuxálk

The Nuxálk (pronounced /nuxalk/) are an Indigenous people of the Central Coast and the furthest north of the Coast Salish cultures, although linguists theory now assigns them as independent of both Interior and Coast Salish language groups. Their language is a Salishan language, and very different from that of their coastal neighbours, and is now believed to have been more related to Interior Salish before the Athapaskan groups now inland from them spread southwards. The Nuxálk (pronounced Nu-halk) (also referred to as the Nuxalk, or Bella Coola) are a First Nation in Canada, living in the area in and around Bella Coola, British Columbia. ...

Notes

See also

• Indigenous peoples
• Indigenous peoples of the Americas
• Aboriginal peoples in Canada

The term indigenous peoples has no universal, standard or fixed definition, but can be used about any ethnic group who inhabit the geographic region with which they have the earliest historical connection. ... A Hupa man. ... Aboriginal people in Canada are Indigenous Peoples recognized in the Canadian Constitution Act, 1982, sections 25 and 35, respectively, as Indians (First Nations), Métis, and Inuit. ...

References

External links