The Kwakiutl people are indigenous (native) North Americans who live mostly along the coasts of British Columbia , which is located in the northwest corner of Canada. Today, there are about 5,500 Kwakiutls living here on the tribe's own reserve, which is land specially designated for Native American tribes.
What does it look like where the Kwakiutl live?
What were Kwakiutl homes like in the past? The Kwakiutls lived in coastal villages of rectangular cedar-plank houses with bark roofs . Usually these houses were large (up to 100 feet long) and each one housed several familes from the same clan (as many as 50 people.)
What is the Kwakiutl tribe known for?
The Kwakiutl were widely known for their totem poles, elaborate wooden houses , and seaworthy log canoes, as well as for dramatizing myths and performing magic tricks.
What language did the Kwakiutl speak?
Our Kwakiutl language or Kwak'wala is a Wakashan language of the Northwest Coast, traditionally spoken in our territory. Kwak'wala is the term used for the language, and Kwakwaka'wakw for the ethnic group. The Kwakwaka'wakw, or Kwak'wala speakers are the original inhabitants of the Northern Vancouver Island area.
What did the Kwakiutl tribe do for fun?
What did the Kwakiutl tribe do for fun? They do the same things any children do– play with each other, go to school and help around the house . Many Kwakiutl children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play, just like early colonial children.
Are the Kwakiutl still exist?
The Kwakiutl people are indigenous (native) North Americans who live mostly along the coasts of British Columbia, which is located in the northwest corner of Canada. Today, there are about 5,500 Kwakiutls living here on the tribe's own reserve , which is land specially designated for Native American tribes.
How did Kwakiutl get its name?
Their name for themselves means “those who speak Kwakwala .” Although the name Kwakiutl is often applied to all the peoples of that group, it is the name of only one band of Kwakwaka'wakw.
What food did the Kwakiutl tribe eat?
The Kwakiutl hunted in both the rivers and the forests. They ate beaver, deer, rabbit, and fish . Caribou was a major source of food. They also used the skins, antlers, and bones.
What makes the Kwakiutl unique?
The Kwakiutl made clothing from the bark of trees . They also made rain capes and coats from animal skins. From the abundant forests of cedar and redwood trees, the Kwakiutl built houses called plank houses, or clan houses. ... A kind of unique celebration called a potlatch was also found in the Kwakiutl culture.
How many Kwakiutl are there?
The Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw (IPA: [ˈkwakwəkjəʔwakw]), also known as the Kwakiutl (/ˈkwɑːkjʊtəl/; “Kwakʼwala-speaking peoples”) are Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Their current population, according to a 2016 census, is 3,665 .
What did the Kwakiutl believe in?
Many contemporary Kwakiutl identify themselves as Christians but incorporate traditional mythology into their faith, freely blending elements of Christian and indigenous religion.
What happened to the Kwakiutl tribe?
In general, the 1850s and 1860s were terrible years for the Kwakiutl, marked as they were by the destruction of several villages by the British Navy and Bella Coola raiders as well as smallpox epidemics .
What was the Kwakiutl culture like?
Like many cultures of the Pacific coast, the Kwakiutl practiced potlatch ceremonies . A potlatch is a massive gathering of different families and groups, during which various religious ceremonies were performed, marriages were exchanged, and items were traded.
What is a Kwakiutl blanket?
These blankets were made after the Hudson's Bay Company began to trade wool blankets to the natives. ... Button blankets decorated with the family crest are considered the Robes of Power. Copper was the symbol of wealth to the Kwakwaka'wakw, and the Frog is known as Copper Maker.
What is Kwakiutl art?
Kwakwaka'wakw art describes the art of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples of British Columbia. It encompasses a wide variety of woodcarving, sculpture, painting, weaving and dance . Kwakwaka'wakw arts are exemplified in totem poles, masks, wooden carvings, jewelry and woven blankets.
