Chanel+Poe

=**__Northwest Coast__**=

**__Religion__**

 * In Northwest Coast culture, their customs, beliefs, and history were passed down orally through stories, songs, and dances. They had stories about why certain things occurred, for example, the changes in season. There were also stories about each group and how they first appeared in this world. All of these stories were passed down to subsequent generations. The people of the Northwest believed that they were surrounded, at all times, by supernatural beings interfering with the natural world. In their culture, spirits were connected to all living things. The only link between the spirit world and the natural world was the 'Shamans' or 'Medicine Men'.**

**__Everyday life__**
===The people of the Northwest Coast were hunter-gatherers, so they relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering edible plants as their main sources of food. Since there was plenty of food available to them, they never needed to develop a system of agriculture to sustain their people. The people living on the Northwest Coast also became quite skilled at navigating the area's waterways. Since they relied so heavily on the Pacific Ocean, and lakes and rivers for their survival, they needed to build strong canoes that they could use for traveling. Art also played a major part in Northwest Coast culture.They were known for their: basketry (basket, hats) woodworking (masks, totem poles) weaving (Chilkat blankets). The people of the Northwest Coast wore very little clothing, except when it was cold. In the warmer months, men would often go naked, and women would only wear bark skirts. The women made most of the clothing out of softened cedar wood or bark, animal leather, and wool.=== =**__Government__**=
 * The Northwest Coast people never developed a democracy. Instead, their society was ruled by wealth. The wealthiest clan had the most power. Their society included different classes: nobles, commoners, and slaves (acquired through War or purchase).Northwest Coast groups were divided into basic social units: extended families with a common ancestor. In these family groups, the oldest and highest ranking individual (closest link to the common ancestor) was named the Chief of the family. Then within each family, a person's rank was determined by their relationship with the Chief.**

**__Time Period of Group__**
 **Archaic Period (10,500 - 4400), Pacific Period (4400 BC - AD 1775), and Modern ( AD 1775 - Present Day )** =__Language__= ===**Each main group had their own language, although some groups had a language which was similar to others. The main groups were divided due to having the same language family.** **The Northwest Coast people have the most diverse languages of any First Peoples group in Canada. It is estimated that there are nineteen distinct languages spoken by the people. However, if the comparable languages are grouped together then the languages spoken in the area can be divided into five main language groups (for convenience sake), and they are: Haidi, Tlingit, Tsimshian - Nishga ( Nisga'a and Giksan), Nuu-xhah-nulth ( Nootka) - Haisla, Heiltsuk, and Kwakwakw'wakw ( Kwakiutl), and Salishan ( Nuxalk and Coast Salish).**===

=__**Questions**__=