Warfare
The Haida people were greatly feared when it came to war. They were especially feared in sea battles along the coast due to their superior practice in lighting raids (hit and runs) where their enemies had hardly any defense. They had many tactics during sea battles. They would tie cedar bark ropes to heavy stone rings that were flung to smash their enemies’ canoes that could be easily retrieved by pulling the rope back to them. If the stone was heavy enough and the throw was hard and effective they could destroy a dugout canoe causing it to sink. They would also defend themselves using trapdoors, platforms, and palisades (a fence make of sharp stakes). Other tribes often tried to avoid sea battles with the Haida and would attempt to persuade them onto land for a more equal fight. The Haida used large canoes when it came to sea battles that could hold up to 60 paddlers. The objective of going to war for the Haida was to gain objects of wealth that were in short supply, such as coppers and Chilkat blankets, but most importantly for slaves. Capturing the defeated enemies and using them as slaves heightened their efficiency when it came to hunting, gathering, cleaning, etc., and they could also be traded to other groups for more beneficial items that were scarce in their village. Warfare effected the history of the Haida because other tribes later on knew that the Haida were dangerous, and that they shouldn't mess with them. In conclusion, the Haida were very advanced when it came to war which would help them to thrive for many years to come.
The Haida people were greatly feared when it came to war. They were especially feared in sea battles along the coast due to their superior practice in lighting raids (hit and runs) where their enemies had hardly any defense. They had many tactics during sea battles. They would tie cedar bark ropes to heavy stone rings that were flung to smash their enemies’ canoes that could be easily retrieved by pulling the rope back to them. If the stone was heavy enough and the throw was hard and effective they could destroy a dugout canoe causing it to sink. They would also defend themselves using trapdoors, platforms, and palisades (a fence make of sharp stakes). Other tribes often tried to avoid sea battles with the Haida and would attempt to persuade them onto land for a more equal fight. The Haida used large canoes when it came to sea battles that could hold up to 60 paddlers. The objective of going to war for the Haida was to gain objects of wealth that were in short supply, such as coppers and Chilkat blankets, but most importantly for slaves. Capturing the defeated enemies and using them as slaves heightened their efficiency when it came to hunting, gathering, cleaning, etc., and they could also be traded to other groups for more beneficial items that were scarce in their village. Warfare effected the history of the Haida because other tribes later on knew that the Haida were dangerous, and that they shouldn't mess with them. In conclusion, the Haida were very advanced when it came to war which would help them to thrive for many years to come.
Art and Leisure
Art played a major role in the everyday life of the Haida nation. The Haida were extremely skilled crafts man and were constantly trying to improve their skills on a regular basis. The abstract concept of art had insignificant meaning for them. They were known for their basketry which included baskets and hats, their woodwork which included masks, canoes, totem poles, and bentwood boxes, and lastly weaving which included blankets. The totem pole is one of their most famous artworks. The pole would display the clan crest and the social status of a family. It was carved from a cedar tree and could be up to 15 meters tall. The carvings on the totem poles would be animal and human forms and would be painted black, red, and blue or sometimes white and yellow. In addition to totem poles they would use baskets for trading and to store items. Their hats would be used to protect themselves from harsh weather like wind, rain or snow. Another important piece of artwork in their culture was their masks. They were either carved out of wood or copper. If they were made of copper it showed a sign of wealth. The Haida masks were mostly used by members of the secret societies. The masks would represent wild spirits of the woods called Gagiid. They would often be blue or green and have a wrinkled face and grimacing mouth. This was to showcase a person who has just escaped almost drowning and now has a gone cold from the extensive contact of cold water. Haida masks were also used in potlach performances to showcase the spirits being encountered by their ancestors. In addition to crafting and producing beautiful pieces of artwork and craftsmanship the Haida peoples also had time for leisure. The children of the Haida nation had more chores then children do now but when they did have time for themselves they enjoyed going hunting and fishing with their fathers. They would also have dolls and toys to play with if the weather was bad outside. The adults of the Haida enjoyed gambling when they were not working. Art effected the Haida because they became known for their beautiful creations and became frequent traders with other tribes. To summarize, the Haida used their art to showcase their immensely skilled craftsmen ship but also had time to themselves to have fun and play games.
Art played a major role in the everyday life of the Haida nation. The Haida were extremely skilled crafts man and were constantly trying to improve their skills on a regular basis. The abstract concept of art had insignificant meaning for them. They were known for their basketry which included baskets and hats, their woodwork which included masks, canoes, totem poles, and bentwood boxes, and lastly weaving which included blankets. The totem pole is one of their most famous artworks. The pole would display the clan crest and the social status of a family. It was carved from a cedar tree and could be up to 15 meters tall. The carvings on the totem poles would be animal and human forms and would be painted black, red, and blue or sometimes white and yellow. In addition to totem poles they would use baskets for trading and to store items. Their hats would be used to protect themselves from harsh weather like wind, rain or snow. Another important piece of artwork in their culture was their masks. They were either carved out of wood or copper. If they were made of copper it showed a sign of wealth. The Haida masks were mostly used by members of the secret societies. The masks would represent wild spirits of the woods called Gagiid. They would often be blue or green and have a wrinkled face and grimacing mouth. This was to showcase a person who has just escaped almost drowning and now has a gone cold from the extensive contact of cold water. Haida masks were also used in potlach performances to showcase the spirits being encountered by their ancestors. In addition to crafting and producing beautiful pieces of artwork and craftsmanship the Haida peoples also had time for leisure. The children of the Haida nation had more chores then children do now but when they did have time for themselves they enjoyed going hunting and fishing with their fathers. They would also have dolls and toys to play with if the weather was bad outside. The adults of the Haida enjoyed gambling when they were not working. Art effected the Haida because they became known for their beautiful creations and became frequent traders with other tribes. To summarize, the Haida used their art to showcase their immensely skilled craftsmen ship but also had time to themselves to have fun and play games.
Trade
The Haida nation sought after trade because they wanted to preserve status among their fellow neighbors. The tribe lived on an archipelago which is a large group of islands therefore they lacked many natural resources that were available on the mainland. Some of these resources included mountain sheep and goat, an abundant source of eulachon fish, mineral pigments, and stones that could be used for tools. Thus the Haida needed to import raw materials they lacked from the mainland to the islands they inhabited. Once they had done this they would process the materials into highly developed products that they would then export to other tribes on Vancouver Island and the mainland. Products included: copper shields and jewellery, silver jewellery, and horn bowls. The Haida traded heavily with the Coast Tsimshian and the Tlingit. The Tsimshian and Tlingit people lived on the Pacific Northwest Coast. The Haida traded slaves, shells and their famous canoes for copper, Chilkat blankets, and hides with the Tsimshains. With the Tlingits they traded canoes, seaweed, and dried halibut for eulachons and soapberries. The Haida people had some internal trade within Haida communities that mostly consisted of products of skilled workmanship. In conclusion, once the Haida Nation became known as skilled workmen the trade between them and other groups began to flourish.
The Haida nation sought after trade because they wanted to preserve status among their fellow neighbors. The tribe lived on an archipelago which is a large group of islands therefore they lacked many natural resources that were available on the mainland. Some of these resources included mountain sheep and goat, an abundant source of eulachon fish, mineral pigments, and stones that could be used for tools. Thus the Haida needed to import raw materials they lacked from the mainland to the islands they inhabited. Once they had done this they would process the materials into highly developed products that they would then export to other tribes on Vancouver Island and the mainland. Products included: copper shields and jewellery, silver jewellery, and horn bowls. The Haida traded heavily with the Coast Tsimshian and the Tlingit. The Tsimshian and Tlingit people lived on the Pacific Northwest Coast. The Haida traded slaves, shells and their famous canoes for copper, Chilkat blankets, and hides with the Tsimshains. With the Tlingits they traded canoes, seaweed, and dried halibut for eulachons and soapberries. The Haida people had some internal trade within Haida communities that mostly consisted of products of skilled workmanship. In conclusion, once the Haida Nation became known as skilled workmen the trade between them and other groups began to flourish.
Social Organization
The Haida people had a different type of social organization than other nations. They were divided into two separate social groups, the Raven and the Eagle. The Raven group consisted of 22 families while the Eagle group consisted of 23 families. In the olden days the towns would be inhabited by one family only. Instead of marrying someone in your own social group, marriage needed to take place between the Eagles and the Ravens. If you were to have children your child would automatically become a member of the same group as their mother. Economic resources, including fishing spots, hunting or collecting areas, and house sites, were provided by each lineage (the line of descendants of a particular ancestor). Every lineage also allowed the rights to a great deal of myths, legends, dances, songs, and musical compositions. Names were important in the Haida nation for they were used to mark different stages of a person’s life and to represent important belongings, such as fish traps, houses, canoes, feast dishes, and occasionally feast spoons. In addition, the social organization of the Haida people’s living conditions was very different than our living conditions. One house would hold up to 30-40 people who were closely related with one head chief. If there was any conflict the chief could act as a war chief when needed and the lineage would honour his authority as the chief. The most powerful chief could live in a home that housed over 100 people including slaves. Similarly the head chief was the head of the most popular and wealthy village. The title of a chief was passed down usually to a chief’s oldest son through the maternal line. In the Haida nation you would be considered a commoner if you did not own a major property, house, or had potlaches given to you. Your position determined where you sat at feasts and special ceremonies. In summary, the social organization was an important factor to the everyday life of the Haida people.
The Haida people had a different type of social organization than other nations. They were divided into two separate social groups, the Raven and the Eagle. The Raven group consisted of 22 families while the Eagle group consisted of 23 families. In the olden days the towns would be inhabited by one family only. Instead of marrying someone in your own social group, marriage needed to take place between the Eagles and the Ravens. If you were to have children your child would automatically become a member of the same group as their mother. Economic resources, including fishing spots, hunting or collecting areas, and house sites, were provided by each lineage (the line of descendants of a particular ancestor). Every lineage also allowed the rights to a great deal of myths, legends, dances, songs, and musical compositions. Names were important in the Haida nation for they were used to mark different stages of a person’s life and to represent important belongings, such as fish traps, houses, canoes, feast dishes, and occasionally feast spoons. In addition, the social organization of the Haida people’s living conditions was very different than our living conditions. One house would hold up to 30-40 people who were closely related with one head chief. If there was any conflict the chief could act as a war chief when needed and the lineage would honour his authority as the chief. The most powerful chief could live in a home that housed over 100 people including slaves. Similarly the head chief was the head of the most popular and wealthy village. The title of a chief was passed down usually to a chief’s oldest son through the maternal line. In the Haida nation you would be considered a commoner if you did not own a major property, house, or had potlaches given to you. Your position determined where you sat at feasts and special ceremonies. In summary, the social organization was an important factor to the everyday life of the Haida people.
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