The Makah Tribe

Makah Tribe

Jimena Ramirez

11th Grade

2011

Introduction

3,800 years ago a tribe was born on the northwestern corner of the continental

United States known today as the state of Washington.

Between sea and land, the tribe learned to fish and used natural resources. The sea, from

salmon to even whales, was a very important source of food to the Makah people. Thedo not only spreaded through land, also through the islands of Waadah, Tatoosh, Ozette,

Cannon Ball, the Bodeltas and the islands on Lake Ozette. They shared land with the

Quileute Tribe, on the area of Forks, Washington. Makah an English pronunciation of a

neighboring tribe's name for them, which means "generous ones." Their own name for

themselves is longer and harder topronounce, Qwiqwidicciat (which means "people of

the point."). Like all living cultures, the Makah Tribe has undergone many changes

since ancient times. Makah children go to public school, wear blue jeans and Nikes,

watch television, and play video games. Today, Makah adults are just like other

American adults in many respects. They attend college, surf the Internet, and make

decisionsthat affect their families, health, and education. But unlike most other

Americans, Makah people also attend potlatches, join ancient secret societies, and hunt

gray whales.
Basic Information

Total Population: 1224

Language: Makah has been extinct as a first language since 2002, when its last fluent

native speaker died. However, it survives as a second language, andthe Makah tribe is

attempting to revive the language, including through preschool classes. The

endonymous name for Makah is qʷi·qʷi·diččaq.

Houses:
In the early 1800s these villages were home to between two thousand and four thousand

Makah. Each Village contained longhouses composed of cedar planks and measuring

approximately 30 feet wide and 70 feet long.

The Makah and theirextended family would share these houses and it was common to

have several generations living in each of these houses. During the summer people

traveled to various summer residences, such as Kidickabit, Archawat, Hoko, Tatoosh

Island, Ozette River and Ozette Lake. These summer camps were closer to the

traditional fishing, whaling and gathering areas of the Makah.

Belief:
The Makah hada well known understanding of their environment and a great respect

for the plants and animals which made them survive through the winter, dark and

stormy winters. As people get used to to the seasons, they knew when and where to hunt

and gather food and materials in balance with nature and to keep her alive. They

observed the common cultural tradition of using nearly all they tookfrom the land and

sea.

Clothing:
Makah men didn't usually wear clothing at all, though some men wore breech-clouts.

Women wore short skirts made of cedar bark or grass. In the rain, the Makahs wore tule

rush capes, and in colder weather, they wore tunics, fur cloaks and moccasins on their

feet. Later, after European influence, Makah people began wearing blanket robes.

Food:
TheMakah Indians were primarily marine hunters. Makah men hunted seals, sea lions,

and even whales from their canoes. They also caught fish and hunted deer, birds, and

small game on land. Makah women gathered clams and shellfish, berries, and roots. Is it

known that the Makah tribe is always alter a grey Whale, used since the pre-colonial

time. The hunt this big animal because the useeverything from it: It’s skin to make

carpets or even houses and the flash to feed eveyone through the winter.

Traditions:
The hunting of the grey whale has always been a tradition thart has not been yet lost.

They paint animals which were, and still are important to Makah culture. Whales,

salmon, halibut, ravens, eagles and wolves are the most commonly used images in

theire. The...