Table of Contents
How did the Pacific Northwest live?
The Northwest Pacific Coastal Native Americans did not live in tepees as did the Yakima of Eastern Washington. Instead, they lived in longhouses built of thick cedar planks. These homes were also called plank houses. These early people chopped down and split massive cedar trees using beaver teeth and stone axes.
Where did the Pacific Northwest people live?
Historically, the Northwest Coast people inhabited a narrow belt of North American Pacific coastland and offshore islands from the southern border of Alaska to northwestern California. Their world stretched from Yakutat Bay, in the northeastern Gulf of Alaska, south to Cape Mendocino, in present-day California.
Why was the Pacific Northwest important to the indigenous people?
The Pacific Northwest Coast at one time had the most densely populated areas of indigenous people ever recorded in Canada. The land and waters provided rich natural resources through cedar and salmon, and highly structured cultures developed from relatively dense populations.
How did the people of the northwest coast live?
Due to the fact that the people of the Northwest Coast had access to food year-round, they were able to live sedentary lives in permanent settlements. They lived in longhouses or ‘Big houses’ constructed out of cedar planks.
Why did the people in the northwest build longhouses?
The longhouses were built with low roofs, because they were easier to heat in the winter. Inside a longhouse, there was only simple furniture. Each family had bunk beds lined up against the wall for sleeping. Above each bunk, there were storage areas and open shelves.
What did the people of the Pacific Coast use for food?
The people had access to the Pacific Ocean for fishing and collecting other food like clams and shellfish. They also took advantage of the expanse of forest in the area and used cedar trees to make everything from their houses and canoes, to their blankets and clothing.