What did the Northwest Coastal People of Canada eat?

How did the people of the Northwest Coast get their food?

The Northwest Coastal People occupied the western shore and the islands of British Columbia, and reached up into the Yukon. They came here over 10,000 years ago. The people of the Northwest Coast relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering edible plants as their main sources of food. They hunted for black-tailed deer, elk, mountain goat, and bear. The Pacific Ocean was the main source of food for them such as whales, Pacific salmon, crab, seaweed, clams, oysters.

Tidal Pool is important for the Northwest Coastal People

This tidal pool in Canadian Museum of History is a replica of a small part of the Northwest coast. It is an example of the abundant sea life found along the beaches and rocky shoreline of the Northwest Coast. At low tide, abalone, clams, mussels, Oysters and scallops could be gathered and were an important food source for the First Peoples of the Northwest Coast, particularly during the winter months.

The Northwest Coastal People lived near the water

They lived near the water, either the Pacific Ocean or an inland river or lake, and relied heavily on water for their survival. So their house were built in sheltered coves or along riverbanks that offered easy access to fishing or other food like clams and shellfish gathering activities.