The Coast Salish

The Coast Salish peoples inhabit coastal and adjacent areas of British Columbia and Washington State. Here, great rivers, calm estuaries, diverse topographies and climate provide bountiful resources. Their canoes demonstrate their needs, ranging from small clam boats to great ocean-going war canoes. Southern Coast Salish relied primarily on seafood while more northern and interior groups supplemented with land fare (goat, bear, deer and elk). All depended greatly upon salmon.

Distributing goods from both sea and interior, they traded smoked fish and fish oil, shells, canoes, metals, goat products, and medicines.

Historically, 10 dialects of the central Salishan language were spoken but today Pentlatch is not used.