Anna Brecheisen
Period 5
1-21-10
Native American Culture Essay
As we look back in history, we learn that the white settlers came to the Pacific
Northwest through the Oregon Trail. The Native Americans had previously established
villages where the settlers decided to make their homes; so naturally, the Indians and the
settlers did not get along peacefully. It is actually estimated that the Natives were around
30,000-50,000 years ago! But how did the Native Americans arrive? There are many
theories about the Native American origins in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the most
commonly believed theories are the Bering Strait Theories. In this theory, the Native
Americans walked across the land or ice bridge, which at one point connected North
America and Asia. The Natives ended up in Alaska, and from there, they gradually
migrated south. Thor Heyerdahl, a 20th century Norwegian adventurer, came up with a
theory contradicting the Bering Strait Theories. He tried to prove that the Natives floated
the Pacific Ocean in reed boats. Heyerdahl tested this theory for himself. He built a raft,
the Kon-Tiki, and floated the Pacific. The native tribes have yet another view about their
origin. They believe that they did not migrate from anywhere. They believe that they
were actually created where they lived.
Historians split the PNW natives into two major groups: the Coastal Indians and
the Plateau Indians. These two groups had countless differences. The Coastal tribes
lived in permanent villages near rivers or oceans, in a moist and heavily forested
environment. They ate a variety of fish, berries, nuts, and roots. The Plateau Indians
were mostly nomadic, traveling wherever food took them. They generally lived in semiarid environments, with sparse grasslands. The Coastal Indians were shorter and
stockier, while the Plateau Indians were tall, lean, and muscular. In a typical Coastal
tribe, the wealthiest member would be selected as the chief. The second in command was
the Shaman. The Shaman was basically the tribal healer. The social class of any
particular native would be determined by their material wealth. In a Plateau tribe, the
chief was the most respected individual. The chief was their military leader, as well as
their spiritual leader. Some tribes would have multiple chiefs. The Plateau Indians did
not value any material goods or slaves. Coastal Indians would build permanent shelters
called longhouses. There was often room for multiple families in one house. The
nomadic Indians would build shelters called teepees. Teepees are cone shaped structures,
which are easily demolished and rebuilt in different locations. Religion was a huge deal
to both the Coastal and Plateau Indians. They practiced animism, the belief that every
living thing has its own spirit.
The Coos Indians are located on the southern coast of Oregon. They are divided
into two different bands: The Hanis and the Miluk. The Coos Indians were big on
hunting and gathering, but the main food staple was fish. The Coos fashioned several
different types of fishing spears and hooks to catch their meals. Each type of device was
used to catch a specific type of fish. One example is the Herring Rake. This tool was
made of cedar, and had tiny little spikes on one end. It basically combed the tiny fish out
of the water. Cedar was also used to make a variety of other goods including, clothing,
baskets, hats, fishing line, houses, canoes, and various other hunting and fishing tools. In
fact, red cedar was used so often that the natives referred to it as “The tree of life.”
Another main food staple for the Coos was camas. This was a bulb like plant similar to
an onion. The Indians would use a digging stick to uncover the camas bulbs.
Once the settlers arrived, several Indian tribes in the PNW turned hostile. The
Whitman massacre took place in 1847 near present day Walla Walla, Washington. Dr.
Whitman and his wife, Narcissa, had settled there, but weren’t on very good terms with
the natives. A small group of Cayuse warriors massacred the Whitmans, along with
thirteen others. Forty-five women and children were also taken captive. The Indians did
not only fight with the settlers. They fought with other tribes as well. When placed on
the same reservation, the Klamaths and the Modocs fought. Captain Jack, a Modoc chief,
tried to lead the Modoc tribe away from the reservation, but was stopped by a US army.
In the end, the leaders were hanged.