Who were they?

1. Who were they? • The Pacific Coast First nations were different from other tribes in Canada because they were a very organized social structure. • They had three ranks of people – nobles, commoners, and slaves

2. The Pacific Coast First Nations

3. Part of Clan • Belonging to a clan was an important part of a person’s life. Children were born into the clans of their parents, usually those of their mothers but some through their fathers. • Clan members were not always blood relatives but they thought of themselves as “brothers” and “sisters”

4. Clan Ancestry • The people in a clan believed that they all shared the same spirit ancestor. • The sprit was that of a respected animal such as a raven, eagle, orca, or wolf, or a mythical being such as a thunderbird.

5. Clan Property • A clan’s property was made up of the group’s belongings. It could never be used by anyone who was not a clan member. • Each clan had its own houses, fishing spots, and berry-picking areas, as well as songs, stories, and ceremonies describing its history, and a crest.

6. Crest • A clan’s crest was a symbol that represent its spirit ancestor. • it was carved or painted on many items that people made. • Clan property and resources belonged to all clan members, but they were controlled by the clan’s chief, or leader.

7. Inheriting a place • Privileges, rights, and roles were important to all people. Their roles in clans and communities were inherited, or passed on from their ancestors. • A clan chief was the leader because his ancestors had been clan leaders before him. • The leader of the largest or highest-ranking clan was the chief of the entire community.

8. Ranking people • Most clans had three ranks of people – nobles, commoners, and slaves. • Clan chiefs and their relatives were nobles. They were the wealthiest members of their clans. • Most chiefs and nobles did not have to fish, hunt, or gather resources because commoners and slaves did much of this work.

9. Ranking people commoners & slaves • commoners were respected members of the community but were of lower rank than the nobles. They had fewer rights and less wealth. • Slaves, who were owed by the nobles and clan leaders, had no rights. Most were capture during raids on other villages. The children of slaves also became slaves.

10. Tribes of the Pacific Coast First Nations • There were five principal tribes of the Pacific Coast First Nations • Haida- lived in Queen Charlotte Islands • Tsimshian-lived across from the Queen Charlotte Islands on the mainland • Salishan-lived along the east coast of Vancouver Island and on the mainland at the mouth of the Columbia River • Kwakiutl and Bella Coola lived between the northern and southern tribes.

11. The Art • The art form has made the pacific coast First Nations well recognized. One of the most recognized art forms around the world is the totem pole. • The totem pole is a depiction of the symbols belonging to the ancestry of the tribe. • It is carved on huge red cedar poles and shows forms of humans and animals sitting on top of each other, reaching the sky.

12. Totem poles • There are many kinds of poles • The memorial poles-thesewere built when a chief died and his replacement carved the totem poles to commemorate him. • The house portal pole-thesewere erected at the door of the house, telling people all those who entered in lineage. These poles had large holes at their base that act like a doorway.

13. Totem poles images

14. Types Totem Poles • Memorial or heraldic poles: These are erected in front of a • house when a change of ownership takes place. It is used to • commemorate the past owner and to identify the present one. • Grave markers: This type of post is used as a tombstone for • graves. • House posts: This totem pole is used as a decoration in front of • a house and it also supports the roof. • Portal poles: This totem pole has a hole in it through which a • person enters the house. • Welcoming poles: These are placed at the edge of a body of • water to identify the owner of that particular waterfront area. • Mortuary poles: These poles are where the remains deceased • people are placed. • Ridicule poles: This pole is literally meant to ridicule people - important people • who have failed in some way. There likeness is carved upside down in some • fashion.

15. Next Class • We will look at their homes • What they ate • Food gathering • Transportation and clothing • Salmon people use of the salmon • important symbols and ceremonies beliefs • At the end we will be making arts – totem poles ….