The Northwest Coast's Adaptation to a Rich Environment by Perfecting the Technique of Putting Useful Things into Boxes.
The people of the Northwest coast's way of life was partly shaped by adapting to the coast's resources. They adapted quite well, and utilized their many resources. These resources included trees, as well as coastal plants and animals. In the first English description of a Northwest coast village there is a mention of ninety log-dugout canoes. This is an example of a great utilization of trees.
Also included in the English description is an account of viewing a burial ground. The deceased person was wrapped in mats, or placed in a box and then placed in an above ground wooden shelter. Wooden boxes were also used to store resources. Among these resources were dried salmon, halibut, cod, dried herring spawn, berries, seal meat and blubber, furs, blankets, and clothing. Sheds were used to store additional goods, located along the beach below the house (Kehoe, 1992). This is a great way to store resources because it preserves them well, and protects them from environmental harm.
The people of the Northwest coast put useful things into boxes. These useful things were food, clothing, and other goods. A dugout canoe is a useful resource, which is similar to a box in that it holds useful things, such as hunting supplies when traveling. Wooden boxes were also used to house the dead. .
People of the Northwest coast recognized the many resources available to them and made use of them. It would be interesting to know if refrigeration was necessary, and if so how they accomplished that.
