If You Lived With The Indians Of The Northwest Coast

by Anne Kamma, Pamela Johnson (Illustrations)

This new addition to Scholastic's popular history series presents a child's eye view of a fascinating Native American culture.

The Indians who lived along the northern Pacific coast were different from any other Native Americans. Thery were fishermen, wood carvers, and builders of totem poles; they were a hierarchical society with noblemen, commoners, and slaves in which material wealth was greatly admired and sought after.

What was it like to be a child among Haida, Makah, Tlingit, or other coastal groups? What kind of house would you live in? What kind of clothes would you wear? What work would you do if you were a girl, or if you were a boy? Would you go on a Spirit Quest? These and dozens of other questions are answered in this informative and beautifully illustrated book.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Native American, Picture Books, 2nd Grade, American

64 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and lots to talk about. Mostly salmon.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read five books in this series about different Native American cultures, and I have to say, the Northwest Coast tribes were the ones I'd least like to live with. Of the five tribes I read about they were the only ones to have slaves and poor people. They also lived off of fish which, to my taste palette, is wildly disgusting.

Here's a few interesting tidbits:

1. They would purposely flatten babies foreheads because they thought it was beautiful. (Only the wealthy did this. Figures.)

2. They would hold these elaborate Potlatches that would take years to prepare for. The host would have to give tons of gifts to all that came. They would use them for ceremonies or to show off wealth.

3. Women would make these special Chilkat blankets. They would give them to husbands.

4. Totem pole carvers would train for 10 years and were highly respected. Totem poles told family stories.

5. The salmon returning was the most important day of the year.

6. Canoe makers were special. They had to be told by their spirits that this was their job.

7. The believed that everything on Earth was actually the spirits of the First People. As long as they honored them, the First People would always return to help them.

8. Winter was for telling stories. They loved when Secret Dancing Societies performed for them.

9. Had summer and winter homes. Summer was spent gathering salmon and drying for winter.

10. Boys went on spirit quests at age 12. Bathed in icy streams everyday and rubbed skin until it bled. Not my cup of tea.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information presented in a relatable way. It held the attention of my 8 y.o. & 10 y.o. enough to read in one sitting.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book's ability to show the children so many aspects of native life on the Northwest coast that they would be curious about. It answers almost any question you might have, and does it in a very approachable style.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tell what it was like to grow up in a land full of mountains, forests, and beaches. The villages had lots of totem poles. It told what you eat, where you would sleep and even told how to babies were carried.