Imagine standing on a misty beach along the Pacific Ocean.

The air smells of salt and pine, and tall trees rise behind you like giants.

In the distance you see a village of wooden houses facing the sea.

Standing proudly among them are tall carved totem poles, painted in bright red, blue, and black. Each carving tells a story of family,

history, and spirit. This is the land of the native peoples of the Pacific Northwest, where rich

forests, rivers, and ocean tides have shaped a way of life for thousands of years. Every November

we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, a time to

honor the first peoples of North America, their history, and their lasting traditions.

The Native peoples of the Pacific Northwest, stretching from Northern California through Oregon,

Washington, British Columbia, and up to Alaska are among the most

remarkable. They include many different tribes, such as the Haida, Tlingit, Kwakwakawaku,

Nuch, Coast Salish, Maka, and Chinook. Each has its own language, culture, and customs,

yet they share deep connections to the land and sea.

For thousands of years, these tribes lived along the coast and rivers where food was plentiful.

The ocean provided fish, shellfish, and sea mammals, while the forests offered berries, roots, and game.

The most important food for many tribes was salmon.

Every year when the salmon returned to their home rivers to spawn, it was a time of celebration and gratitude.

Families worked together to catch, clean, and dry the fish for the winter months.

Salmon was not just food. It was sacred, a gift from the natural world that symbolize life,

respect, and renewal. The people of the Northwest Coast were expert builders and artists.

Using the giant cedar trees that grew in the forests, they made strong

houses, canoes, tools, and art. Cedar was called the tree of life because it provided so much.

...