Coast Salish Culture and Traditions

Encompasses thirty communities on Puget Sound and southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Languages: 12 related but distinct languages reflect long history; origin story of the Creator spilling languages from a cedar basket.

Part of a larger trading network from Alaska to California.
Interaction with British and French traders, contributing to the development of Chinook jargon.
Gold rushes of the late 19th century led to significant cultural shifts and challenges.

Suffered from diseases like smallpox; forced onto reservations.
Educational systems (boarding schools) imposed English, suppressed native languages, and traditional practices.

Spindle Whorl: Represents resources and artistic values; features salmon, a critical food source.
Canoe Carving: Specialized craft with varying designs for trade, hunting, and fishing.
- Planned harvesting of cedar to maximize utility; skilled carvers could create multiple canoes from one tree.
- Techniques included drilling holes, inserting painted dowels, using pitch for waterproofing, and using adzes for shaping.
- Types of canoes: large traveling canoes (up to 100 people), smaller family and fishing canoes.

Salmon considered vital: "The salmon is to us on the coast what the buffalo is to the plains."
Fishing rights, despite treaty guarantees, often challenged; landmark court ruling in 1974 affirmed rights.
Present-day practices include establishing salmon hatcheries.

Some Coast Salish communities have opened casinos for economic development and land repurchase.
Historical context of gambling in social gatherings for goods.

Traditional living in large extended cedar houses.
- Family roles: Grandparents for teaching, mothers for food preparation and gathering, fathers for hunting and defense.
Seasonal cycles of gathering, storing food, storytelling, and weaving.
Emphasis on teaching respect for elders and the earth.

Woodworking and Weaving: Carvings for utility, each piece marked by family crests, traditionally made for use rather than art.
Weaving Techniques: Renowned for twill work; outdoor looms for daylight utilization. Materials included mountain sheep/goat wool and plant fibers.
Family ownership of designs and skills passed through generations; teaching boys is a method to preserve knowledge.

Basketry often reflects historical events, family lineage, or traditional designs (e.g., four winds motifs).
Baskets made from materials like wild cherry bark and nettle root; also used for hats and mats.
Dolls made from cattail fibers—demonstrating persistence of skills and cultural heritage.

Mobility in household items; carved wooden spoons as personal belongings shared during meals.
Sacred nature of family feasts; ceremonial details are intentionally kept private.
Chief Seattle's speech reflects the cultural significance of land and ancestry—"Every part of this country is sacred."

Coast Salish culture is rich in traditions, crafts, and a deep connection to the land and ancestral heritage.