Deck 6: Native Peoples of the Northwest Coast

Question 1

The culture area of the Northwest Coast was the site of all of the following EXCEPT

A)a material culture focused on woodworking.
B)early domestication of the horse for travel.
C)unique and highly regarded artwork.
D)economies based on marine life.

Answer 1

early domestication of the horse for travel.

Question 2

An essential element for maintaining rank in Northwest Coast communities was

A)agreement among members of the noble class.
B)inheritance of property.
C)number of wives.
D)number of descendents.

Answer 2

inheritance of property.

Question 3

The most important social unit in the Northwest Coast was the

A)moiety.
B)nuclear family.
C)clan.
D)lineage.

Answer 3

clan.

Question 4

The message expressed in Northwest Coast art focused on the

A)hierarchical relationships between the figures.
B)details of the figures themselves.
C)meanings attached to the colors presented.
D)exploration of dreams.

Question 5

The historical Kwakwaka'wakw did all of the following EXCEPT

A)traded with the British, starting in the 1700s.
B)suffered heavily from European diseases.
C)lost 87% of their population.
D)had great concern for the origin of the universe.

Question 6

The Kwakwaka'wakw believed that the culture hero Transformer

A)would empower warriors during battle.
B)protected their children from harm.
C)created the Kwakwaka'wakw people.
D)would remove settlers from their lands.

Question 7

The primary Kwakwaka'wakw family unit

A)was a loosely patrilineal lineage.
B)was a firmly matrilineal lineage.
C)did not involve clans.
D)lived in separate houses.

Question 8

Discuss why early scientists believed the people of the Northwest Coast became dependent on the salmon.By what time was warfare evident? Woodworking tools? What developed in the Late Period?

Question 9

Name the first Europeans to contact Indians of the Northwest Coast and note the date.Which Europeans controlled the Northwest Coast fur trade? What was the impact of Europeans on Northwest Coast Indians?

Question 10

Discuss the importance of potlatches.What events did they mark? Why did the Canadian government ban them, and what impact did that have on the Northwest Coast people?

Question 11

Explain the significance of the totem pole.Describe several types.

Question 12

The industries that employ most Kwakwaka'wakw today are

A)tourism and gaming.
B)fishing and logging.
C)hunting and fishing.
D)corn and timber.

Question 13

Chief Seathl is famous for

A)signing the Treaty of Point Elliot, which placed most of the Indians in the Puget Sound area on reservations.
B)rebelling against the Canadian government at the Battle of Point Elliot.
C)conducting valuable ethnographic research with the Kwakwaka'wakw in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
D)hosting the largest potlatch of record in the Northwest Coast in the late 19th century.

Question 14

The prime location for a town in the Northwest Coast was

A)an isolated canyon with abundant tributaries.
B)a tract of forest replete with woody vegetation.
C)a patch of flatland shielded by mountains to the east.
D)a shelter location along the bay with a river system.

Question 15

The environment of the Northwest Coast consisted of

A)extensive grassland on the east.
B)arid desert flatlands.
C)extensive marshland in the inland regions.
D)thick forests that were difficult to travel through.

Question 16

The prehistory of the Northwest Coast is poorly known partly because

A)frequent volcanic activity has destroyed sites.
B)many ancient sites are now under water.
C)most prehistoric settlements are under ice.
D)political instability dominated the region.

Question 17

About 3,500 years ago, a complex socioeconomic system typical of ethnographic times surfaced, now often referred to as the

A)Developed Northwest Coast Pattern.
B)Configuration of Douthern Alaska.
C)Puget Sound Period.
D)Coastal Occupation Peak.

Question 18

Interaction among various Indian groups and Europeans led to the development of a special language called

A)Paiute.
B)Hokan.
C)Chinuk Wawa.
D)Mono.

Question 19

Potlatches are social and political ceremonies that

A)make the wealthy even richer.
B)are held by shamans.
C)can validate rank and redistribute wealth.
D)were initiated by European settlers.

Question 20

Totem poles are traditionally made to show all of the following EXCEPT

A)rank and memorials.
B)achievements and exploits.
C)consequences of misbehavior.
D)family history.

Question 21

Although it was reinstated in 1951, the potlatch was banned

A)in 1885.
B)in 1800.
C)in 1902.
D)regionally throughout the late 19th century.

Question 22

All of the following describes "coppers" EXCEPT that they

A)were often displayed at potlatches.
B)were of modest value.
C)could be destroyed.
D)had names and histories.

Question 23

Although it was always an important industry, fishing became a major commercial enterprise around 1865 due to

A)the development of canning.
B)the drop in the pelt availability caused by European fur trade.
C)widespread disease reducing the land animal population.
D)the desire for fish sparked by gold miners.

Question 24

Many groups in the Northwest Coast had slaves, for whom each of the following is true EXCEPT that they were

A)obtained from raids.
B)symbols of status for their owners.
C)protected during the potlatch.
D)preferably female.

Question 25

Explain why Chief Seathl is sometimes considered an environmentalist.

Question 26

The first anthropologist to conduct research among peoples of the Northwest Coast was __________.

A)William Clark
B)Franz Boas
C)Chief Seathl
D)Edward Tylor

Question 27

The prehistory of the Northwest Coast is poorly known partly because __________.

A)frequent volcanic activity has destroyed sites
B)many ancient sites are now under water
C)most prehistoric settlements are under ice
D)of political instabilities in the region

Question 28

Most material culture of Northwest Coast populations revolves around __________.

A)the fur trade
B)copper smelting
C)woodworking
D)pottery

Question 29

Most Northwest Coast populations lived in __________.

A)small, highly mobile seasonal camps
B)semisubterranean circular huts
C)tents made from animal hides
D)large, sedentary villages of large wooden houses

Question 30

Potlatches __________.

A)make the wealthy even richer
B)are held by shamans
C)can validate rank and redistribute wealth
D)are initiation ceremonies

Question 31

Totem poles are traditionally made to show __________.

A)rank and memorials
B)achievements and exploits
C)family history
D)all of the above

Question 32

The potlatch was banned in __________ and reinstated in __________.

A)1855; 1951
B)1800; 2005
C)1902; 2000
D)1895; 1923

Question 33

Coppers __________.

A)were often displayed at potlatches.
B)had names and histories
C)could be destroyed
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 34

One of the most important aquatic resources for Northwest Coast populations was__________.

A)kelp
B)salmon
C)coral
D)whale

Question 35

Most travel along the Northwest Coast was conducted by __________.

A)foot
B)horseback
C)toboggan
D)canoe

Question 36

Chief Seathl is famous for __________.

A)signing the Treaty of Point Elliot which placed many Northwest coast peoples on reservations
B)rebelling against the Canadian government at the Battle of Point Elliot
C)conducting valuable ethnographic research with the Kwakiutl in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
D)hosting the largest potlatch of record in the Northwest Coast in the late 19th century

Question 37

Today's main employers of the Kwakiutl are the __________ and __________ industries.

A)tourism, gaming
B)fishing, logging
C)hunting, fishing
D)corn, timber

Question 38

Northwest Coast marriages __________.

A)were arranged for economic or political reasons
B)might be arranged so a man could obtain rights to songs or dances
C)tried to keep rank within the family
D)all of the above

Question 39

Slaves in the Northwest Coast __________.

A)were usually male
B)were not important to their owners
C)were symbols of status
D)a and c
E)none of the above

Question 40

The most important social unit in the Northwest Coast was the __________.

A)moiety
B)nuclear family
C)clan
D)lineage

Question 41

Potlatches __________.

A)may have replaced warfare
B)did not affect Northwest coast economics
C)were never destructive
D)involved only people of the same class

Question 42

Northwest Coast religion __________.

A)focused on one all-powerful deity
B)involved mainly summer ceremonies
C)included secret societies
D)did not involve spirits

Question 43

The historical Kwakiutl __________.

A)traded with the British, starting in the 1700s
B)suffered heavily from European diseases
C)lost 87 percent of their population
D)all of the above

Question 44

Kwakiutl warfare __________.

A)was large-scale
B)involved revenge or prestige
C)did not use trained warriors, only volunteers
D)increased as the British took control of the region

Question 45

A pregnant Kwakiutl woman __________.

A)worked very hard to help her baby appreciate a good work ethic
B)wanted to avoid having twins
C)slept parallel to house planking to help in the baby's birth
D)was the last up in the mornings so she could get much-needed rest

Question 46

A typical Kwakiutl war expedition __________.

A)started at dawn
B)usually took place in the spring
C)involved sneaking up on a sleeping enemy
D)would take over an enemy town for their own use

Question 47

The primary Kwakiutl family unit__________.

A)was a loosely patrilineal lineage
B)lived in separate houses
C)did not involve clans
D)all of the above

Question 48

The only domestic animal for the Kwakiutl was __________.

A)the horse
B)the turkey
C)the fox
D)the dog

Question 49

Kwakiutl shamans __________.

A)had two levels of power: high and low
B)could not cure illnesses
C)entered trances and had supernatural helpers
D)were initiated in a large group in a private ceremony

Question 50

Evidence of Paleoindian Period human occupation is sparse because most sites today are covered with volcanic deposits.

Question 51

In the Northwest Coast land animals were less important as resources than ocean mammals.

Question 52

Eulachon fish contained so much oil they could be lit to burn like a candle.

Question 53

In the late 1990s the Makah tribe in northwest Washington State resumed traditional seal hunting.

Question 54

The Kwakiutl practiced extensive agriculture.

Question 55

Describe the general environment of the Northwest Coast.

Question 56

How do early scientists believe the people of the Northwest Coast became dependent on the salmon? By what time was warfare evident? Woodworking tools? What developed in the Late Period? (c.A.D.1500 to Contact)?

Question 57

Who were the first Europeans to contact Indians of the Northwest Coast and when? Which Europeans controlled the Northwest Coast fur trade? What was the impact of Europeans on Northwest Coast Indians?

Question 58

Describe the typical Northwest town.Where was the best location? Describe their political organization.Discuss warfare- weapons, reasons, attack method.

Question 59

What was the most important social unit in a Northwestern Coast town? Discuss class and rank.How were marriages arranged?

Question 60

Discuss the importance of potlatches.What events did they mark? When were they held? What is a "copper"? Why did the Canadian government ban them, and what impact did that have on the Northwest Coast people?

Question 61

Discuss the land and marine resources utilized by Northwest Coast people.Did they have agriculture? What is their staple food? Name 3 or 4 species of their staple food.What is a eulachon?

Question 62

What was the center of technology for Northwest Coast people? Give examples.What resources were used?

Question 63

What did a totem pole serve as? Name several types.

Question 64

Discuss the importance and characteristics of Northwest Coast art.

Question 65

Who is Chief Seathl?

Question 66

Discuss the Kwakiutl cosmology and religion.Who was their culture hero? What were their beliefs and what was the function of their ceremonies? Name their three most important supernaturals.Name one summer and one winter ceremony.What could the highest level of shamans do?

Question 67

What was the Kwakiutl primary family unit? How was labor divided? Discuss the status of women.

Question 68

Compare the Subarctic response to twins with that of the Kwakiutl.What was done to high-ranking Kwakiutl female babies? How did the Kwakiutl feel about the dead?

Question 69

What are some of the problems of modern Kwakiutl? How do they usually earn a living?