The Kwakiutl Indians - Northwest

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The Kwakiutl Indians - Northwest

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People who lived in the Pacific Northwest lived
in cedar plank longhouses. Boards were cut from
cedar trees to build the large houses. Many
families of the same clan lived in each house.
There were no windows, one door, and a hole in
the roof to let the smoke from fires out.
Beautiful clan symbols were sometimes painted on
the outside. Huge totem poles telling the story
of the clan were placed in front.
                                                
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                Library of Congress Photo,
University
This picture is of a Haida village built on the
coast with large ocean going canoes on the beach
in front of the houses.
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NORTHWEST FOOD
 The Northwest Indians were surrounded by an
environment that allowed them to eat several
types of food.  They received an endless supply
of fish from the ocean and animals and fruit from
the forests.  They were hunters and gatherers.
The tribes that lived right on the coast, ate
mainly food from the sea.  They ate salmon,
seals, sea otters, whales, and other types of
shellfish from the water. In the fall, during
the "salmon season," the people could catch
enough fish to feed their families for the whole
year.  Fishermen made fences of tree saplings to
bring the fish toward waiting nets as the salmon
swam upstream.  The Indians pulled the big salmon
from the water by the thousands.  
  Once winter was over, then came the first
foods and the "First Foods Ceremony".  In the
Indian culture no one is to go fishing or berry
picking until the first food ceremony was held. 
This ceremony thanked the Creator for the
bountiful harvest.  Once all of the food was
blessed, everyone in the tribe could start
hunting and gathering food for the spring months.