The Music & Artof the NW Coastal Indians

Group #10

Members & Tasks

Research ~ Kelly, Frank & Kelsi

Videos, Music & other Media ~ Maya

Map(s), Charts, etc. ~ Bailee & Kyle

Interactive Activity ~ Joseph

Scripted Narration ~ Holly & Amelia

Compilation of References ~ Angelo

PowerPoint Slide Compilation ~ Elizabeth

Northwest Coastal Indians

• Hundreds of tribes span Northwest Coastal areas

• From Alaska to Northern California

• 100,000 Native Americans live on the West Coast

History of Coastal Indians• Villages consisted of large rectangular homes, 30-40 people

per home• Large totem poles stood in front of the house showing the

head of household• Wore little clothing ~ basketry, hats (men) skirts, sleeveless

jackets and aprons (women)

Coastal Indian

Musical Traditions

• Vocalization and percussion the important tradition

• Drum most important instrument

• Diverse instruments versus any other tribes

Potlatch Traditions

Customs and respect for elders are highly honored

Gift giving festival to show a tribes worth

Hosting tribe celebrated and gave generously for days

Each tribe celebrates in different ways

Native American Singers

Moderately relaxed and open vocal styles that emphasize lower ranges

Variety of ornaments and special vocal techniques for expressive purposes

Scale range, 4-6 tones and half step intervals

Singers perform in blended unison

Musical Instruments• Instruments represent mythical beings• Instruments embellished to represent spirit of musician• Other instruments: whistles, rattles, flutes, horns and

percussions

Coastal IndianArt/Musical Examples

Video contains images of totems, jewelry and masks, along with tradition drum music

Native Americans known for basketry, woodcarving and weaving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Wt7RO8BX4

Video contains Intuit tribe members performing traditional throat singing

Form of entertainment among females`

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IqOegVCNKI&feature=related

Ceremonies & Rituals

• Kwakiutl Ceremonial Dance

• Generational tradition

• Songs/dances considered private property to families to be passed down

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRT_6ZmcGR4

NW Coastal Word Search

Q Z X C V B N L P O T L A T C H E S K K J H G FW X H A I D A P O I U Y T R E W L K J H G F D DE C L G B N J H G F D S S A Q W E R T Y U I O SR V K R B M R S C H I L K A T R B L A N K E T AT B J U V L M D W J K E R T L T D G J O O R Q PY S A L M O N R N R H D F Y I G A A Z D F I W KU N H Q C K Y V K F V Y K U N B S D R U M K E WI M G W X J T G I V F H W U G V R X C V B F R AO L G O Z H S H L T R N A I I C Y E G N H D T KJ K F D S G I J L G E U K O T D Y N G Y C X Y II J T O T E M O E B D J W P K E U A G U O D U UB H D O S F S L R Y C S A L I S H P P P A F I TW G S D D D H M W H X P K W E R T Q M L S T O LE F A E F S I N H N S P A J T K I T B U T T L OG D P M G A A B A U W O ‘ U G S W E R T S M L IF S O E H Q N V L J Q I W F V M Y U I O A N K UD A I R J W P C E M A J A C B A P L K J L B J YS Q U T K E O S G W Z J K D H L H G F D I V H TA W Y Y L R I Q D T V R M P U L G F D S S C G RZ R A V E N I Q W E R T Y U I P A Z X C H X F EX E T U O R U K J H G F D L K O V G D O F Z D WC R T I P T Y T P I T R C G M X B N F X L A S QV B N M L K J H G F D S S A Q W E R T Y U I O PI N U I T   T H R O A T   S I N G I N G H J K L

Northwest Coast Art

Northwest Coast art includes several cultures

Each century, each culture developed its own artistic style, myth and ceremony

Belief was all living and natural thing had a soul and purpose

Respect was shown in their art

Guided by mythology

Totems poles are unique to Northwest Indians

Carved and painted masks represents spirits

Tribal clans closely related to animals

Performance Masks• Important part of all Native American ceremonies• Multiple types of masks ~ single face, mechanical mask

and transformation mask• Masks made in cooper shows signs of wealth

TotemPoles

• Each design varies from culture to culture

• Can symbolize tribe, clan, family or individual

• Recount family legends or special events

• Some figures represent negative reminders too

• Never the object of worship

Chilkat Blanket• Worn by a dancer during a Potlatch ceremony• Known as a “button blanket” due to pearl and shell buttons• Highly valued up and down the coast and traded

Coastal IndiansToday

Potlatches are openly celebrated in Canada

Native carvers are educating the public with totems

Traditions are being carried on with new totems, museums and honoring the deceased

Increased celebrations for important events and family histories

References

Adelphi University. Thunderbird American Indian Dancers. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://aupac.adelphi.edu/events/thunderbird-indians.php>.

American Indians - Northwest Bands. Kidzworld, n.d. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1387-american-indians-northwest-bands>.

American Museum Collection. Northwest Coast Chief's Ceremonial Wood Raven Rattle. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.anthroposgallery.com/gallery/ravenrattle.html>.

Blecha, Peter. Song-Catchers: Documenting the Music of Northwest Indians. HistoryLink, 22 Dec. 2005. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7565>.

Curtis, Edward. Kwakwaka’wakw Potlatch Dancers and Singers. Native AmericanEncyclopedia. Potlatch. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://nativeamericanencyclopedia.com/potlatch/>.

References

Glazner, Chris, Roxanne Solis, and Geoff Weinman. Drums and Songs. Oracle, Web. 5 May 2011. <http://library.thinkquest.org/3081/drum.htm>.

The Grand Father Style Flute. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.heartsongflutes.com/grand-father-style-flute.htm>.

Inuit throat-singing demonstration . Smithsonian Folkways, YouTube.com. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IqOegVCNKI&feature=related>.

Miller, Gay. "Northwestern Coastal Indians." Native Americans. 2001. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/index.htm>.

Native American Culture and Map. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.snowwowl.com/maps/mapnorthwest.html>

References

Native American music." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 05 May. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1350772/Native-American-music>.

Northwest Coast Indian." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 05 May. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/420049/Northwest-Coast-Indian

Quish, Na Na. Hand Painted Drums. Sa-Cinn Native Enterprises , Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.sa-cinn.com/drums.htm>.

Stanley Park Totem Poles. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://blogs.glnd.k12.va.us/teachers/atolson/files/2008/11/stanley-park-totem-poles-vancouver-bc613.jpg>.

Wikipedia contributors. "Northwest Coast art." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 16 Apr. 2011. Web. 5 May. 2011. <http://mrsbarberchs.wikispaces.com/z6+Northwest+Coast>.