Location: The Kwakiutl are located between the fiftieth and fifty-fourth parallels in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. Higher concentrations are found on Vancouver Island.
History: In the late 18th century, explorers from Europe were charting the Pacific Coast when they first encountered the Kwakiutl, a culture that had no western influence until that time. Soon companies and pioneers began to settle in the area. With this invasion came relations between the settlers and the Kwakiutl. These relations were reasonably good because both peoples had something to offer the other. The Kwakiutl supplied the newcomers with furs and they were in turn shown the marvels of a modern society being built-up around them.
In the 1890’s many Kwakiutl men began working for commercial fishing companies. This began to have dire effects on the Kwakiutl. With the influx of western settlers came diseases that all but decimated the population. At its height the population was 8,000 people and this fell to around 1,000 in 1929. Since then the population has steadily increased to more than 4,000 in the 1990’s.
Language: Known as Kwakiutl, this language belongs to the Wakashan group of indigenous languages. The three major branches used in different regions include Haisla, Heiltsuq, and Southern Kwakiutl.
Daily Life: Kwakiutl men hunted deer and moose, but their main source of food was fish. The women supplemented the diet by gathering shellfish, seaweed, and berries. Woodworking was an important technology as it provided a means to exploit the ocean more efficiently. Large canoes were also used to relocate between seasonal camps when following the availability of the natural resources, such as migrating fish and game.
Multifamily houses were constructed of wood and reflected the superb use of modern ideas. They consisted of large wooden frames with thin cedar-bark as covering. The roofs were slanted allowing for easy drainage. Clothing consisted of cedar-bark and fur robes for both males and females. Kwakiutl women wore aprons made of bark bound together with goat-hair. They also developed wooden capes and hoods made from cedar-bark. These hoods and capes were waterproof and allowed for work in the rain.
There were about 30 groups of Kwakiutl spread along the coast from northernmost Washington State to upper British Columbia. Each group consisted of a chief who governed the community. The population was then grouped by rank. This was determined by inheriting family names and privileges from elders. Some privileges included the right to sing certain songs and wear certain masks during ceremonies. Another main indicators of social status was an individuals personal property, items such as tools or jewelry. They were displayed openly and almost vainly to verify the members status.
Best Known Features: The Kwakiutl culture features many ceremonies and traditions. One such tradition is the Potlatch. Potlatches were often held to observe major life events. During these ceremonies, gifts and property were exchanged competitively to demonstrate wealth and status. Sometimes items were burned or thrown into the ocean. Potlatches were often combined with presentations from elder dancers depicting ancient stories from generations past. These included interactions between the ancients and their gods.
This custom was fully researched and documented by anthropologist Franz Boas from 1880 to 1900. His studies resulted in the publication of more than 5,000 pages on this culture in which he describes almost every facet, including their economy, art style, and ceremonies.
References:
"Kwakiutl," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001. http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=0424F000
“The Kwakiutl,” Britannica.com, Online Encyclopedia. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=47630
"The North American Indian," Es Curtis, Volume-10 The Kwakiutlhttp://www.curtis-collection.com/tribe%20data/kuakiutl.html
“Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl)” http://www.civilization.ca/membrs/fph/stones/groups/kwaki.htm
David Strawn