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The Culture of the Northwest Coast First Nations |
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The North West Coast is an area where one can find some of the most diversified cultures in the world. Their large population, which has greater variety of language than exists in the entirety of Europe, (Steckley, Cummins 2001: 112), is world renowned for the peoples’ art, mythology and fishing practices. Five of the eleven aboriginal language varieties found in Canada, are found on the North West Coast, these include the language families of Salish and Wakashan and the isolates of Haida, Tsimshian, and Tlingit (Steckley, Cummins 2001: 112). The North West Coast First Nations are known as hunters and gatherers, salmon is the most valuable resource in their diet and economy. Harvesting the salmon is not only a subsistence technique, it also encompasses tradition and religion. First Nations people pass down oral knowledge of the patterns of migration of salmon, and have strong mythological views of the spirit of these animals and the respect they deserve. Other aspects of the North West Coast First Nations diet include, berries, roots and bark, shellfish, crabs, seals, and whales, and land mammals, including caribou, moose, and bear. As demonstrated by the rich variety of the North West Coast First Nation’s diet, the people are conscientious to utilize all the resources that are available to them. Traditional societies in the North West Coast are based on kinship; numerous families will often live together, sheltered by the famous large cedar homes. These homes can be up to forty two meters long, when families live together the house is divided into assigned sections for each nuclear group (Steckley, Cummins 2001: 111). These homes each have an assigned headman, who helps the chiefs make decisions and is meant to represent the best interest of the home. Marriage is a key way of binding societies; it is often used as a tool to form alliances. The giving of gifts and privileges are also incorporated in the ceremony of marriage to strengthen the alliance making process. (Halpin 1981: 8) The North West Coast First Nations are known for having societies with the greatest degree of stratification of any First Nation civilization (Steckley, Cummins 2001: 111). Individuals are often ranked according to their lineage, and the chiefs, at the top of this ranking system hold more power and prestige then are normally tolerated in First Nations culture. Due to the diverse nature of the North West Coast, there is no consistent practice of tracing lineage. Societies may be matrilineal (lineage is traced through the mothers ancestry), patrilineal (lineage is traced through the fathers ancestry) or bilateral, where both sides of ancestry are taken into account (Halpin, 1981). Spirituality is a key component of all First Nation’s culture. Their religious beliefs are very holistic, and incorporate the sacred quality of all natural things. Hunting, sleeping, eating and any other daily routine is viewed as a spiritual act, “An Indian, as far as religion goes, he lived his religion… Everyday life was his religion.” (Beck, Walters, Francisco, 1990). The North West Coast First Nations have many ways of expressing aspects of their spiritual beliefs, these include sacred dances, ceremonies, potlatches, stories, and art work. Represented in the artwork are often spirits in the form of animals, such as raven’s whales, and coyotes. The artist’s lineage is also incorporated, represented by symbols or animals. Among these forms of artwork, are totem poles, one of the most well recognized forms of First Nations art. They capture the true essence of the First Nations culture, and are very popular world wide, as museum displays, and private anthropological collections.
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