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

______________________

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.

Cultures Clash

A major cultural barrier between Native American and the white settlers was the settler's wish to impose the standard of their society upon a people who represented an entirely different way of life. 

Indians were condemned for a lack of cleanliness when it was a well known fact that settlers rarely bathed more than once a week and used large qualities of toilet water instead.  Yet they viewed the Indian and "dirty"!

Settlers refused to see the customs or economic demands of the Indian, nor were they interested in understanding them. 

Demonstrating derision and outright racism in their judgments, they were quick to judge Indians as poor specimens  of humanity.  Native customs and culture were seen as needing eradicated by the "enlightened white civilization" To intermarry, for instance, was considered both a shame and a disgrace to the country.

In my opinion, reactions to Indians culture and customs of a a once proud and self sufficient people was just intolerant, ignorant and heartless.

Note:  Let me close this post by saying that I am not a Native American, nor were my ancestors, nor do I have any Indian blood in my veins...my family tree goes back to a man named White on the Mayflower, but do we have to share blood to see how greed was the governing factor in the way we treated the Native Americans?  It is a truly sad commentary of the wonderful period of pioneer history which I love so much...just so you know!

Next...The custom of Hospitality