Northwest Coast Indian

Northwest Coast Indian

Any member of the North American Indian peoples inhabiting a narrow but rich belt of coastland and offshore islands from southeast Alaska to northwestern California. A signal feature of Northwest Coast society was the emphasis on each individual's hereditary social rank. A person's position within a local group depended on his genealogical closeness to the legendary group ancestor. For food the peoples of the area depended primarily on five species of salmon; herring; oil-rich “candlefish,” or eulachon; smelt; cod; halibut; mollusks; and whales—all of which were abundant. Water transport was highly important, and all groups made efficient dugout canoes. Northwest Coast woodworking was facilitated by the natural abundance of easily worked timbers, especially red cedar and redwood; Northwest Coast artists are known for their superb sculptures, masks, and totem poles. Groups of the Northwest Coast include, from north to south, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, northern Kwakiutl (Heiltsuq), Bella Coola, southern Kwakiutl, Nuu-chah-nulth (formerly Nootka), Coast Salish, Chinook, and a number of smaller groups.