The Native People of the The Native People of the PlateauPlateau

By: Moody. Keshav, Wisam

IntroductionIntroduction

• A plateau is a high plain or tableland which is often cut by deep canyon.

• Also referred to by Indigenous peoples of the Plateau, and historically called the Plateau Indians.

• The Native People of the Plateau lived in the southern interior of B.C and Alberta.

• The Plateau consist of many Tribes, for example: The Chinook People, The Interior Salish and the Sahaptin People.

Map of the Plateau

HabitatHabitat

• Very Diverse in term of geography

• They live in an area of Canada dominated by the Rocky Mountains and their valleys.

• There were forests with mostly coniferous trees that dominated the landscape.

The Rocky Mountains and their Valleys

Tools and WeaponsTools and Weapons• Many tools were made from bones, wood and

stone.• Tools were decorated with feathers, copper,

carving and beads.• Some of those Tools are: Ktunaxa dipper (ladle)

Root digging stick, fish hooks and Ktunaxa fish trap.

• Men used nets, pits, and game corals and also drove them over cliffs or water to spear them from the canoes.

• Weapons such as: Bow and Arrow, Harpoons, Spears, Clubs, and Slings were used for hunting and defending themselves.

Ktunaxa fish trap

Man fishing with harpoon

• Each village had one or more leaders or Chiefs.

• Some people were chosen Chiefs because of their personal abilities and knowledge, Ex: Salmon Chief.

• People of the Plateau were democratic, they voted before making any decisions.

• The Elders gave advice to solve the issues.

Leader of Ktunaxa

SubsistenceSubsistence• The Environment include

species like White-tailed deer, caribous, mountain sheep, hare that were used for food and fur.

• Most animal hunted were white-tailed deer and caribous.

• Salmon, trout, eels, and other fish were abundant in the rivers, and fishing was their most important source of food.

Wild Salmon

The Picture of a White-Tailed Deer

ClothingClothing• Women were responsible for making

clothes for families such as dresses, leggings, shirts and shoes .

• They made their clothes from animal skin, grasses and soften bark

• Things like leather mittens, fur cape, fur poncho, deerskin clothes and leather moccasins were made from animal skins

• Woven Nlaka'pamux cape is an example of made from grasses and soften bark

Woman scraping an animal skin

Woven Nlaka'pamux cape

• They strongly believed that there were good and bad spirits inhabiting in all living things and non-livings.

• The Shamans were the most important religious leaders in Plateau culture because they had special powers.

• They had many Myths, ex: The creator Coyote.

• They had a strong relationship with nature and animals.

The creator Coyote

Cultural ArtifactsCultural Artifacts

• Made from the best and most colourful materials found in the world.

• These Artifacts include: pottery, arrow, eagle bonnet, rattle, bowcase.

• They are preserved in museums located in B.C

Arrows

Pottery

HomesHomes• The people of the plateau moved

around in search of food, so they needed to set up shelter very fast.

• They lived in three type of shelters depending on the seasons, for example: Pit house during winter, Tipi used for summer time and a Tule Mat Lodges also for summer.

• The Houses were mostly made from wood lodges and used dirt and grasses to seal the space between the lodges.

An Underground Pit

house

Ktunaxa Tule mat Tipi

Kinship and Social organizationKinship and Social organization

• Kinship was agreed by many sides of the tribes.

• Men were primary because they did the hunting, the trading and the warfare.

• Women did the gathering of medicines and roots to make baskets and the domestics did other tasks like picking up berries, cooking dry meat and cooking salmon over fire. Berry basket

The EndThe End

Thank you for watching our presentation!

ReferencesReferences

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Northwest_Plateau#Chinook_peoples

• http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plateau1.html• http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&P

arams=A1ARTA0009071• http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhibitions/archeo/hnpc/npvol26e.sht

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