Northwest Indians

NORTHWEST INDIANS

The Northwest Indian region runs along the Pacific Ocean coast from southern Alaska to northern California. Some of the major groups were the Bella Bella, Chiook, Tillamook, Eyak, Coast Salish, and the Tlingit.

These tribes relied a great deal on food from the sea, like salmon, seals, sea otters, whales, and other animals.

One of the most common things found among the Northwest Indians was the totem pole. The poles weren't as common to the tribes until the white traders brought them iron tools for carving, after which the totem poles became a dominant symbol of the tribes. A totem pole in front of an Indian's home would show the ancestory and the social rank of that family.

The following art work was done by Mrs. Lacson's first grade class. The work represents some of what they learned about the Northwest Indian tribes.

Students