The whale harpooner was a person of high rank, and families passed down the magical and practical secrets that made for successful hunting. The relationship between a chief and his group can thus be referred to as a total social relationship: the chief relies on the members of his group to harvest the resources within his territory, and they rely upon him for his ability to provide them with ritual and economic security.Īlthough whaling was more of a hunting ritual than a religion, it was part of their religion nevertheless. Protection and these parties appealed to the people the most. Also, since he would get a share of everyone's crops and gatherings, he could live well and have big potlatches (parties). The chief had to provide adequate protection for his people, and if he did not, they could leave him for a better chief. Although he was powerful, maintaining his high standing was heavily dependent on the support the chief and his family obtained in the community. The house chief, as the central authority figure, had charge of resources within his territory, and was entitled to receive a share of everything harvested in them. Also, there was status within the families. No slave or commoner could ever become a chief.įamilies were grouped and within those families, there was a recognized head of the family. The Chief's younger sons and their families made the middle class and the other families were the commoners. The chief title was hereditary, and only men could be chiefs. The chief was at the top and his oldest son was to inherit everything, including becoming the title. The social organization of the Nuu chah nulth people was based on a stratified local group or lineage. The northern and central Nuu-chah-nulth groups speak dialects of one language, while the southern group (Ditidaht and Makah) speak separate but closely related languages. Nuu-chah-nulth itself is divided into three languages. Wakashan has two main branches, Kwakiutl and Nuu-chah-nulth. The Wakashan language family is one of the six found in British Columbia alone. Wakashan is one of the eleven native language families in Canada. Above the Lightning Snake are two supernatural Codfish, facing each other. Above the entrance, two Thunderbirds face each other, and above each Thunderbird is the figure of a Lightning Snake, the supernatural servant of the Thunderbird. Below its large round doorway are ten round holes, representing ten moons. Although Nuu-Chah-Nulth houses were often set broadside to the beach, this house faced the beach. An example Nuu-Chah-Nulth house belonged to the head chief of the Tsesha'ath people who live near the present-day town of Port Alberni, at the head of Barkley Sound. Nuu-Chah-Nulth houses could be as long as 30 metres and were built with cedar beams and hand-split boards according to the same principles as Coast Salish houses. Northern Region:Ehattesaht, Kyuquot/Cheklesahht, Mowachat/Muchalaht, and Nuchatlaht.Central Region:Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht, and Ucluelet.Southern Region:Ditidaht, Huu-ay-aht, Hupacasath, Tse-shaht, and Uchucklesaht.(See language) Today, each Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation includes several chiefly families, and most include what were once considered several separate local groups.įourteen Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations are divided into three regions: They all spoke the Wakashan Language with different variations from their own culture. He grouped a bunch of tribes together all under the Nootka, yet they were different people. An entire tribe could live for a whole year on two to four whales.When Captain Cook first met these people, he referred to them as the Nootka, a mistaken name that has stuck with them for years. The whale also was a source of oil and the bones were used for various tools. Once the whale was pulled to shore, it was cut up. The whale would become heavy and sink if this were to happen. The whale was then towed back to shore. After the whale died, the Indians tied its mouths shut so the whale’s lungs couldn’t fill with water. The umiak was about 30 feet in length. When a whale was spotted the chief was the first to strike it with his harpoon. The Inuit built large boats called an umiak. The Makah and Nootka often carved elaborate pictures and painted designs on their canoes. Some were more than 60 feet long. They built the canoes from the trunks of huge cedar and redwood trees. Only two tribes of Northwest Coastal Indians, The Makah and Nootka, hunted for food in the sea. Children were kept close to their camp for fear that they would be stolen by another tribe and become a slave. The Northwest Coastal Indians took slaves. Singing, dancing, and story-telling were part of the celebration. The person hosting the potlatch gave away as many gifts to his guests as he could. The Northwest Coastal tribes occasionally gathered together for a potlatch.
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