A Clash of Culture in the Pacific Northwest - Part 2

Along the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Coast, Indians of the foggy, woodland areas shared the belief in animal spirits as the center of religion like the Colville, but were totally different in their lifestyle.  Nootka and Clallam were war-like tribes and owned slaves. 

The waters of the Pacific Coast abounded in fish, and the Nootka would trade surplus fish for blankets and goods with other tribes who didn't have access to the sea such as the Chinook.  Unlike the Colville, they amassed possessions.  Their society was divided into commoners and nobles with a hereditary chief who owned the village land, the hunting and fishing grounds, and was served by slaves captured on raids.

A noble could use his hereditary title  only after performing a "potlatch": inviting guests he wished to  impress, boasting about his wealth, delivering speeches of self-praise, and then giving away much of his wealth to those who attended. The more he gave, the higher his status.  Sometimes he might kill his slaves to show he could afford to spare them!

How these people accounted for the abundance of salmon is quite interesting... they honored the Salmon Being and they believed that the salmon's spirit would go back to a submarine salmon house and there acquire new bodies for next year's spawning.  The first fish taken each year was ritually eaten at the Salmon Being  altar, the bones tossed back into the water so the fish would be reincarnated for next year's catch!  And we think our grandparents had some amazing stories to tell!

Next time...Oregon Fever

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Today in Pioneer History:  On January 16, 1919,   the 18th Amendent to the U.S Constitution, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes" is ratified and becomes law.  The movement actually began as the "Temperance Movement" in the 1800s.