Kristi Walker
Medina Middle School
Fourth Grade
Native Americans of the
Pacific Northwest:
Vocabulary:
• Tlingit
• Potlatch
• Totem Pole
• Clan
Tlingit
•
The Tlingit (KLIHN kiht) are a Native American tribe who
lived along the Northwest coast in a region called the Pacific
Northwest.
Geography
• The northwest coast has a wet climate with mild
winters and cool summers.
• Bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west and
forest and rivers to the east.
• The ocean and forests were rich in natural
resources.
• Because food was plentiful, the Tlingit often
traded their excess with neighboring tribes in
return for other goods.
Potlatches
• Ceremonial clothing was worn to potlatches:
• Carved Masks
• Potlatch Hats
• Dancing Dresses
• Chilkat Robes
• A Potlatch is a special feast at which the guest
receive gifts instead of the host.
Potlatches
• Potlatches were held to mark an important event such as
honoring a new chief or to celebrate a wedding.
• Special gifts were made or
collected for every guest.
• A guest’s importance
determined what type of gift
they were given. Important
guest might have been given
a canoe or fur robe.
• Some potlatch celebrations
lasted for many days.
Tlingits at a potlatch in Sitka, Alaska on December 9, 1904
Food
• Salmon was the most important food to the Tlingit.
• In early spring, millions of salmon swim from the salty water
of the Pacific Ocean to the freshwater rivers to lay their eggs.
• The Tlingit called this event the salmon run.
• A family could catch over 1,000 pounds of salmon during the
salmon run.
• Large portions of the fish was dried or smoked so it could be
kept for future meals.
Shelter
• Built large plank houses from the vast forest in the
area.
• Often planks were cut from trees without chopping the
tree down.
• Several families would live
together in one house
during the winter.
• Houses were decorated
with bright, colorful
pictures and designs that
represented the family’s
crest.
Totem Poles
• Huge wooden totem poles
stood in front of each home.
• A totem pole is a pole carved
and/or painted with symbols
that represent a family’s
history.
• Totem poles were often raised
at potlatches.
• Most were 40-60 feet tall but
some were as tall as 100 feet.
Totem Poles
Family Life
• The families that lived together in the same house were part of the
same clan.
• A clan is a group of families with a common ancestor.
• Clans were established through the mother’s side of the family.
• Boys were sent to live with his mother’s brother when he was 8
years old to learn how to hunt and other responsibilities.
• Girls learned house traditions
from their mothers and
grandmothers.
• Both boys and girls learned about
the Tlingit and their clan’s history
& customs from their elders.
Technology
• Tlingit did not have to spend much time “surviving” because
there was an abundance of food and other resources where
they lived.
• This enabled them to
spend time specializing in
technology, or designing
tools, ideas, or other ways
to solve problems.
• Examples of Tlingit
technology are the dams
they built, traps for
catching salmon, and
making canoes.
Tlingit Fish Trap
Video
This is a modern day Tlingit family performing a dance similar to that of their
ancestors. Notice they are wearing traditional Tlingit clothing.
Focus Questions
& Extended Writing
• What was the
• What role did
purpose of a
salmon fishing play in
potlatch?
the life of the Tlingit?
• How did the Tlingit
use the natural
resources in their
environment?
• Suppose your class
gave a potlatch.
Write about your
reasons for holding it
an the activities you
plan.
Activity
• Make a
potlatch mask.