William Clark described them as: "all go lightly dressed ware nothing below the waist in the coldest weather, a piece of fur around their bodies and a short robe composes the sum total of their dress, except a few hats, and beads about their necks arms and lets."(Chinook) Their clothing was mostly made from deerskin, cedar bark or leather. Some of their styles were shirts, and skirts, and even their own hats. Boys and girls usually wore the skirts and women wore the hats with cedar strips and bear grass. Generally, the Chinook economy was based upon simple bartering, like the other Indian groups in the same region. Slaves and shells, called higua, were often used as the currency of money. Each fall the Chinook traders would trade with other Indians from the interior at The Dalles or Kettle Falls. Usually Cayuse and the Nez Oerce from Montana and Washington preferred to buy horses from the Chinook. Others, like the fierce Klikitats tribe usually offered weaponry, their specialty, for trading. Trading was usually peaceful than the later more famous rendezvous of the American trappers. It was a pity that the later Indians' trading with the missionaries became more exasperating. People described that what Chinook actually act when trading was that they just practice of "flattening" the heads of their young from forehead to crown. However, it was amazing that this behavior or it may be called rather as the sight of its effects, did attract lots of the Oregon missionaries coming. (Robert 8).
The Chinooks spoke the Chinook language, and they even had their own Chinook Jargon. People usually used Jargon when trading goods. The Chinook also had their own religion, culture, and even music. Their region was full of spiritual beliefs. They believed all things in nature had their own spirits, and the Chinook people needed to live with those natural spirits. (Chinook) In the past, the Chinook loved to tell stories.
The next story of creation comes from the North American Chinook tribe that lives along the coast of British Colombia. ... Soon after the Spirit Bird left, the eggs that were left hatched and became the Chinook. This African creation story comes from the Efik tribe of Nigeria. ...
Many small tribes such as the Makah, the Chinook, and the Tillamook lived in this culture area. ... The Makah were a tribe of Northwest Indians. ... These tribes were the Senecas, Onondagas, Oneidas, and Mohawks. ... Wampum belts were used as a form of communication between Indian tribes. All Indian messengers carried wampum belts when going to other tribes. ...
They had a highly developed way of trading among themselves and other tribes, and got along well with eachother. ... "Potlatch" came from the Chinook word patshatl, meaning to give a way. ... This might be because of the fact that they did not have to worry about things other tribes did, like following a herd, or not having enough resources to build houses, etc. and had more time for art and to think about what they owned, but whatever it was, it caused the Haida to be extremely concerned about social status. ...
The Lewis and Clark expedition, one of the most remarkable journeys ever in the nation's history, took place about 200 years ago. At that time, much of the country had not yet been explored; much of the territory was west of the Missouri River. On March 4, 1801, Jefferson took the presidential oath of office. In his speech, he asked Americans "to unite with one heart and one mind."" He was not only referring to bringing the political parties together, but also to expand the nation westward. ...
