Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast are those people who have lived in the area that stretches from northern California to Alaska, USA, and British Columbia, Canada, for thousands of years.
Like many other Indigenous cultures, they have their own unique language, art, traditions, and beliefs. They have a deep respect for the natural world and this has influenced the way they live and the tools they use.
These people lived in longhouses, which can be described as really big houses made of wood that many families could live in. They used canoes, which are like big boats, to travel across the water and to go fishing for salmon and other seafood.
The Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast also had a complex social and economic system. They had chiefs or leaders who were responsible for making important decisions, and they had a strong sense of community and shared resources.
Over time, the arrival of European explorers and settlers brought changes to their way of life. Many Indigenous peoples were forced to leave their homes and communities as a result of colonization and the Indian Residential School system, which aimed to assimilate Indigenous peoples into mainstream Western culture.
Today, Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast are fighting to preserve their traditions and maintain their way of life, and they are an important part of the cultural identity of the region.