
Location: The Chinook were North American
Indians of the Northwest Pacific Coast. They lived along the lower Columbian
River.
History: They were famous for their
extensive trading. They traded over thousands of miles with many different
peoples. Being river dwellers their livelihood greatly depended on fish. Salmon
was a major source of trade. Other valuable trade items included canoes, slaves
and shells. They communicated with other groups through a spoken trade
language. This trade language was recognized and spoken by many other peoples.
It was a combination of Chinook, Nootka, English and French. It was widely used
along the coast from California to Alaska.
The Chinook also found fame from American Explorers. When Lewis and
Clark found their way through the country they came across many different types
of people. The Chinook were the first documented people to be discovered by
Lewis and Clark. After this civilization moved westward, closing the gap to the
Chinook. The Chinook didn't mesh well with the Europeans and slowly dwindled in
population. They were ultimately removed to reservations and taken from their
lands. Our understanding and knowledge of them exists only in the documentation
of trade partners and neighboring tribes.
Daily Life: The social makeup of the
Chinook tribe consisted of many close relatives. They were led by a senior
elder who was well respected in the community. Their religion and faith derived
from their livelihood. Chinook religion focused on the First Salmon Rite, a
ritual in which each group welcomed the annual salmon run. Another important
religious rite was the individual spirit quest, an ordeal undertaken by all
male and some female adolescents to acquire guardian spirits that would give
them hunting, curing, or other powers, bring them good luck, or teach them
songs and dances. Singing ceremonies were public demonstrations of these gifts.
The Chinook also had potlatches, which were ceremonial distributions of
property.

Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not
claim expertise on the Chinook.
Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL.
If you are a descendant of the Chinook, your feedback is much appreciated.
Official Website of the Chinook Nation http://www.chinooknation.org/
List of Online Resources for Chinook Nation http://www.native-languages.org/chinook_culture.htm
References
- The Americana Encyclopedia. volume 3, 1994 Americana
Encyclopedia Inc.
- Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Written by: Andrew
Hedlund
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