Of all the native Americans the north west coast natives were the wealthiest. They also had the largest population totem poles homes and canoes. By the time they came in contact with the Europeans other areas were already been explored and they had already been Indians.Sciences think that northwest coast native Americans came thousands of years ago. Long ago they lived in pole homes cover with skin and slabs ok bark. Fish and other sea animals provided rich protein. The people that were the wealthiest in each tribe became the tribe leaders. The class a person was born into is the class he stayed in for life. The commoners were hard working and the men carved totem poles and hunted the women weaves and cooked for the men. Then there was the slaves traded and worked for only the richest people. Slaves had no rights they could be traded bought and even killed. Wealth was important a man kept his social position by his wealth. Things used for money where white shells, blanket woven by wool,coppers,canoes,masks,skins,and slaves. After tools where built houses where made about of cedar wood they were appalled long houses. There where no windows but a big fire pit in the middle. The leader of the hose would sleep near the door then went the family and then in the back the slaves. Cedar was used for many things like canoes arts and crafts blankets clothes baskets boxes boards arrows and spears. In warm weather men wore little clothes but in winter they wore strong weaved skins to make them waterproof and then rolled in oil. Men had a lot of facial hair and hair to shoulder length and women in braids. THE END

NW Coastal Native Americans

North west coastal natives carved totem

poles

actives were used these tool for special uses