In 1492, the rivers and oceans of the Pacific Northwest were filled with salmon, halibut, and many other kinds of fish.
Along the shore, people dug for clams and mussels. Because the area got plenty of rain, tall cedar trees grew in the forests. Bushes were filled with delicious, plump berries. Many of the people in the Pacific Northwest were farmers, but they didn’t need to grow crops to stay alive. They could catch dinner with a hook, a net, or a spear.
One group of Native Americans living in the Pacific Northwest in 1492 was the Makah. Because they hunted whales and seals, the Makah built their villages to face the Pacific Ocean. Every spring, large gray whales and fur seals swam nearby as they made their way back to cold northern waters. When the Makah saw the whales passing by, they prepared to hunt. The last whaling canoe is about to set out. Hop aboard for an exciting ride.