Travel to other Regions in... North America
	Along the Pacific
	Arid Lands, Plateaus and Basins
	East of Big Muddy
	Northern Realms

North America's Region of...

Along the Pacific

General Urbs

California Coast and Interior; Northwest Coast

Humans have lived in the Pacific Northwest region since the last ice age, which occured about 10,000 years ago. Many of the people in the Pacific Northwest were camas bulb eaters and fished abundant amounts of salmon, and other fish, from the Columbia and other rivers as well as taking animals from the sea (such as seals). Berries, roots, duck, elk and deer added to their diets at different times of the year. Men carved posts and canoes and women used the bark of cedar trees to make water-proof baskets and even some clothing. Many peoples were nomadic, moving at the changes of seasons to follow food sources. They cared for the land and camas eaters would burn the underbrush in order to facilitate new growth of bulbs each year.

A very important social event for Pacific Northwest people was the potlatch. These usually occurred in the fall when harvests were complete and hunts were finished. The wealthy families used a potlatch to display their wealth, but it was also a gathering used to strengthen relationships among a scattered population. Potlatch was also given to signify a special occasion, such as a wedding. The host would feed all the guests and would provide gifts to them as well. It could be competitive and occasionally families would go broke to out-give previous potlatch hosts.

Under Development by CherokeeRose Sequoyah

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