Chapter 5: Rainforests, Rivers, and Ocean

What words and phrases contribute to the imagery of the rainforests in these two paragraphs?

Answer explanation

"steady rains and mild temperatures," "reach heights to 300 feet or more," "dense treetop canopy," "a carpet of thick mosses, fluffy ferns, and lichens."

What does the sentence "As long as they respected those resources, then there was always enough to go around" mean?

Answer explanation

This sentence means that as long as inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest were careful not to be too wasteful, there were plenty of resources available to them.

Why were the Pacific Northwest tribes able to thrive (flourish) in this region?

Answer explanation

Pacific Northwest Native Americans had an abundance of diverse food sources, including salmon and other fish, whales, and roots, and berries, and grains. These food sources were unique to the temperate rainforest habitat in which they lived. They were able to establish permanent villages accessible to the forests and waters nearby.

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How did Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest express their connection to their environment through religion?

Answer explanation

Tribes of the Pacific Northwest practiced a form of religion called totemism. They believed that people shared special bonds with animals and other parts of nature, and every family had a special bond with a specific animal or other part of nature, their totem. Some people displayed totem poles or passed down sacred masks depicting the totems with which they shared a bond.

How was the social structure of Pacific Northwest tribes organized?

Answer explanation

The social structure of Pacific Northwest tribes was centered on large, extended families called clans. Clans lived together and had a head called a chieftain. A single tribe or village had many clans that worked together and shared resources.

How were the experiences of Pacific Northwest tribes similar to those of tribes in other regions?

Answer explanation

As a result of European contact, they experienced disease, warfare, and forced relocation to reservations, resulting in a reduced population, and they lost access to land and resources traditionally used by the tribes. In addition, governmental control prevented tribes from holding potlatches, leading to a loss of culture and identity within the tribes.