Northwest - Stories for Kids Illustration

Stories for Kids
Pacific Northwest Coastal Native Americans
in Olden Times

Kids in the Pacific Northwest Native American tribes had many jobs. The girls helped their mothers. The boys helped their fathers. Kids played games of strength and courage and trickery.

In the Pacific Northwest, Native Americans kids played a special game when fishing for salmon when salmon ran the creeks each year. The whole tribe helped because catching and curing and storing salmon would help feed everyone all winter long. It was especially fun for kids. Kids worked together in teams, using smaller nets than the men used when they went fishing. They pushed the net down to the bottom of the creek. They pulled it up together, keeping the corners higher than the center, and catching a great many salmon each time. They lifted the net to shore, being careful not to spill the fish they had just captured. Teams shouted out their captured count with each net. Someone on shore kept track. The prize was bragging rights.

Each time they played the fish net game, the game did not last long. These early people wanted their rivers and streams to stay loaded with fish. They took what they needed and left the rest to thrive.

How Raven Stole Crow's Potlatch (story) & This same story in PowerPoint format - retold by Lin Donn, illustrated by Phillip Martin

Story: The Medicine Man

Interactive Games and Activities (flash games have been removed)

Free Clip Art

For Teachers: Kids Activities for the Pacific Northwest Native Americans

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Native Americans for Kids