Native Americans of the

Northwest Coast Region

By Maura Ferrigno, Emily Eng, Sophia DelMonte,

and Kenny Heffernan

Present Day AreasThe northwest coast is a narrow

strip of land between the pacific

ocean on the west and mountains in

the east. Many Native Americans

live in the region of the pacific

northwest, the land that stretches

from Southern Alaska to Northern

California.

The Northwest Coast was a narrow strip of land. The Pacific

Ocean was on the west and the mountains were on the east of

the Northwest Coast. Wet air is trapped by the mountains to

make the summers cool and the winters mild and wet.

There are many trees and plants due to the weather. The coast

had many inlets and islands. Many animals roam the forests

and the forests are rich with roots and berries.

Geography and Climate

How did the environment help them survive?

The people who lived in the northwest

lived near forests so they used wood

to make houses, boats, and carved

objects, and since they lived by the

sea they traded sea shells to inland

people for furs to make more clothes.

They also hunted deers bears and

fished for salmon. They also made

their clothes frombear skins.

Native American Groups

The Northwest coast region had many different tribes

living in it. The Coos, Coola, Bella, Inuit, Kwakiutl, and

Haida are some tribes that lived in that area.

CultureThe Northwest coast region tribes held

potlatches (a ceremony in which people would

give away most of their valuables to gain status

and help their community) to mark life events

such as birth and death. Many families that

were all related lived in longhouses together.

Another tradition is totem poles. Totem poles

are poles with animals, birds, and landmarks

carved into them to tell the history of the clan.

The only Native American people to make

these are the Pacific Northwest people. Men

wore breechcloths made of animal skins and

women wore dresses of skins.