About the Chinook Indians
In 1805, Lewis and Clark came upon a friendly and welcoming tribe of Native Americans. The native people that Lewis and Clark encountered upon the banks of the Columbia River were the Chinook, actually only one band of a tribal grouping of 12 known and recorded bands, which would later be referred to as Chinookan Indians.
Other People Are Reading
-
Geography
-
These native people had been known and respected for nearly 15 years by traders traveling the Columbia River. The Chinookan people called the river and her sisters home, from British Columbia well into Canada and even eastern Washington state, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. It is unclear how long they had been there and where they came from originally.
Identification
-
The Chinook people of the lower Columbia resided in non-migrating family groups, supporting themselves by salmon fishing, farming, gathering, hunting and trading in furs, mostly furs, fish, and some slaves. Closer to the Pacific, the Chinook were recognized as experienced and skilled whale hunters. The Chinook were known to be skillful canoe builders, excellent navigators and expert fishermen.
-
Features
-
These were not a warrior people; they preferred to settle disputes and differences within the tribe and with their neighbors with arduous tests of strength, cleverness and endurance. These types of challenges were traditional rituals practiced for generations. The Chinook people abhorred violence and would avoid it whenever possible, but they were by no means docile or weak.
Considerations
-
It was a sign of social standing among the Chinook to have a flat head; mothers would fasten a board to an infant's head shortly after birth to ensure that her child would be among the social elite and deserving of the family's rank in the band.
Effects
-
The remaining descendants of the Chinookan tribes today reside on reservations located in Oregon, Washington and near the Columbia River. It was not until 2001 that the Chinooks were officially recognized by the United States government, as a separate tribe in its own right. It was believed that the Chinook people were extinct in a report from about 1900. European diseases are believed to be the main cause of the drastic decrease in the Chinook population. Since about 1970, Chinook descendants have been found to be part of other Chinookan bands, and the number of residents continues to grow. It is hoped that eventually, the Chinook people will allow us a better look into their history and culture. However, at this time, there is actually very little information available on this strongly protective and secretive people.
-
