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West Coast Tribes By Madell and Samantha Food The coastal people ate fish, salmon, berries, clam, herring eggs, and mussels. They made water boxes to hold water. They would put hot rocks inside the box to cook their food. They would roast their food over an open fire. They would cook in pits dug in the ground. Appearance and Clothing The coastal people wore cedar bark clothing and painted their clothing. The coastal people wore spruce hats. They also used fur, goats' hair, and birds' down for clothing. they wove designs on their to represent an animal or a bird. They made beautiful capes that they called was a Chilkat Blanket. They also had head dresses. Both men and woman wore skirts and capes. They had very large blankets. Home The coastal people live in the western part of British Columbia. The coastal part of British Columbia has many small islands. Their houses were made of wood. They painted designs of animal pictures on their houses in different colors. The house had one very large room. It was made of cedar wood. It had four house posts made out of tree trunks. The house had no windows; it only had a small entrance opening. A house pole, carved like a totem pole, stood at the opening. There were cedar planks and rock weights on the roof. The houses could fit 40 to 60 people. Several of families lived in one house. Transportation The coastal people traveled by walking and riding boats. For the coastal people building canoes was a special event. The canoe that they built took them trading trips, fishing, and wars. They had a carving master who chose men to go to the forest and gather up tall cedar trees. The master carver told the men what to do. To hollow the tree the men had to burn the insides of the tree but they had to put wet sand in so the fire wouldn't burn too far. After the tree was hollowed, the men used a tool called a d-adze to chip out the burned wood. They did this again and again until it was big enough. They poured in water to soften the wood. They carved designs on the outside of the canoe. When the tree was on the ground the men shaped it with their tools. Tools and Weapons The coastal people make their weapons and tools using wood, bones, stones, and later on, metal. They had many kinds of adzes. They had tools like stone mauls, stone hammers and drills. They made hooks, harpoons, nets and knives to catch animals and fish. Religion (Beliefs) The coastal people would sing songs to request a favor from the spirits. They believed in soul catchers and the ghost that had past away. They believed in the creator of life and spirit helpers. They went to shamans to tell them to contact the spirit helpers for guidance. In ceremonies that were certain shamans would wear special masks and robes and request. They had feasts called potlatches at which they gave valuable gifts and dances. Art The coastal people would paint designs on their clothing. They carved totem poles and decorated their houses. Canoes, baskets, blankets, mats, masks, and boxes all had painted, carved, and woven animal and nature designs. Interesting Facts The coastal people carved totem poles. They put them up because they represented family and clans. Haida Indians carved totem poles to represent a family tree. The coastal people could make almost anything. |