THE FIRST AMERICANS

Press, 15 August 1978, Page 14

THE FIRST AMERICANS

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RAPHAEL J. MacLOUGHLIN

The advancement of America’s south-east and south-west was brought about by discoveries and inventions. These events shaped the Iroquois, altered the character of the Algonkians, created the mid-western farmers, and finally affected the mounted nomads of the Plains.

Here, such is not the case. Instead of finding a primitive people influenced by the contact of more advanced beings, we have a group who on taking over a primitive people proceeded to advance themselves.

Where are we? Who are these people? And what is the chief influence that gave impetus to their cultural advancement?

Many days have passed since we left the Everglades of Florida; we have traversed America’s northwest coast. Follow our route on an atlas.

It began from the extreme north-western corner of the United States, on the northern end of California’s coast, and continued along the narrow coastal strip to British Columbia. From there we travelled up along the tongue of Alaska; see how it projects southward from the main part of that great territory.

On our journey we met people of many language families. Here on this Alaskan pine and spruce covered shoreline, live the Tlingit (pronounced clingjit), the most important member of a family group. They are not a tribe.

Their language is related to Athabascan but so changed as to indicate a separation from the main mass of Athabascans (ancestors of the Navajo and Apache) long ago. When speaking of north-west coast culture the word “coast” is significant, for the culture was based on access to the sea and the mouths of rivers, the main primitive influence is seen from archaelogical evidence of an early Eskimo-like culture; the various ways these Indians do things point to an elaboration of Eskimo ways, particularly in regard to fishing and the hunting of seal and whale. We will find no agriculture here, except for a little tobacco planting in scattered areas. With only a moderate supply of berries, there is poor-to-good hunting of elk, mountain sheep, bear, and deer, and some good hunting or migratory birds. However, there is the sea and its abundance of food. Five varieties of salmon

in great quantities make their annual run up the rivers. There are also herring, smelt, and olachen, halibut, cod, flounder, and shell-fish. Add to this diet the mammals of the sea — porpoise, sea-lions, and whales — and you can see that starvation was never a problem for the west coast Indians as it was on occasions for their brothers elsewhere.

These shore-line villages are interesting. Note that in the building of their wooden houses (see drawing) the planks are placed horizontal. After these Indians acquired nails, planks were laid vertical. See the variously carved poles. Although long known as totem poles, the name is nevertheless incorrect. The carvings on the individual poles are not totems, but crests and insignia.

These poles are erected in memory of dead chiefs and are a part of the procedure by which an heir’s inheritance is validated. They were in many instances the actual grave, the dead chief being placed inside. We will also find poles attached to the fronts of houses With a door cut through them. These carvings apart from depicting rank, also record ancient events and recent triumphs.

Here comes a Tlingit brave; it is obvious from his expression that he does not approve of our presence. However, a present of silver coins has softened his attitude.

In answer to my questions he says that the rest of the villagers are at a meeting in the chief’s house, for we are not the only visitors. Some Haida people, from British Columbia, have arrived, and as a result of this all the Tlingit will have to increase their own chief’s wealth by donations. As our companion guides us through the village observe his dress. Display of rank and ceremonial authority is obviously more important than comfort; the bare minimum is worn to keep out the cold and wet of this damp, cool climate. The fringed blanket he wears, with its highly formalised design of black, yellow, green, and white, is woven from mountain goat wool combined with yarn made from shredded cedar bark, He wears no moccasins, though these Indians know how to make them.

But, listen, he is grumbling. What is the word he keeps muttering? “Potlatch.” He certainly does not approve of it, but what is “Potlatch?”