Title: Northwest Coast Native Americans ***
Headings: Northwest Coast Native Americans
Northwest Coast Native Americans
Northwest Native Americans

Content: Those who gave away or destroyed the most property earned the greatest social prestige. Potlatch is a way for people to share their wealth with the community, to strengthen their leadership claims and to earn the respect of the tribe. In accordance with this custom a man might save for half a lifetime in order to acquire the rank of chief by finally giving away his entire goods and belongings at a grand public feast. Northwest Native Americans - Totem Poles
Totem poles were important to the North Coast Native Americans. Family history was visually displayed outside the home of every Native Indian via a Totem Pole. Totem poles were made of logs which were carved with various symbols including animals, plants, birds, and religious spirits. Northwest Indians - Physical Characteristics
The physical characteristics of Northwest Coast Indians are dark brown eyes, prominent cheek bones, straight black hair, and scantiness of beard. The skin color of Native Indians varies from very light in some tribes such as the Cheyenne, to almost black in others, such as the Caddo and a yellowish color in such as the Flatheads. Northwest Native Americans - Languages
The languages of the Northwest Coast Native Americans included Chinookan, Athapaskan and Penutian languages. Penutian encompassed a large division of languages spoken in the Pacific northwest, near the Columbia River basin, including Chinookan, Tsimshianic and Utian.