Natives of Sea and Cedar: Part Two

The Pacific Ocean provided a variety of food for the natives of the northwest coast. Roe, clams, mussels, crabs, oysters, halibut, herring and seaweed were easily obtained, providing a wide variety in diet. Cranberries, huckleberries, plus many more varieties grew in abundance in the region and were picked in season. However, they were hard to preserve. Today, we make jams or jellies and use freezers. The northwest natives had none of these luxuries. Berries were stored in bottles of whale or seal oil made of dry kelp. They were also cooked into a mass and dried in the form of cakes.

Along with these things, the natives of the northwest coast ate wild game, birds, roots, shoots and the bark of the cedar tree. All of these things were rich in nutrients and provided them with all the essentials of life.

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