The Quileutes are originally from the west in Washington in the United States. They are also know as Quillayutes, for the moment they have a population of 750 people. After signing the Quinault Treaty in 1855, the Quileute people settled down at the Quileute Indian Reservation. the main population senter is the community of La Push, Washington. The population in La Push is 371 people, so almost all of the Quileutes live there. As a community they have their own government that rconsists of a tribal counsil. The current tribal counsil members are; Carol Hatch (chair), Tony Foste (vice-chair), DeAnna Hobson (secretary), and Anna Rose Counsell (treasurer).
Craftsmanship
The Quileute's were excellent boat makers, like many other tribes in the region, talented builders and craftsmen.Canoes for whaling, which could hold tons of cargo and many men, were some of the things they could make. They had cedar canoes ranging in size; from small boats that could hold two people to gaint vessels up to 58 meters long and capable of holding up to 6,000 pounds. Today, when making Clipper Ship's, they still uses a design very much like the canoes the Quileute's used. The Quileute's used the resources from the mother nature to make tools and other items they needed. in the entire region there were almost nothing that weren't made out of wood. Necessities like utensils, clothing, weapon and paint were made from the natural resources available to them. Dog hair blankets and their woven baskets is something The Quileute Tribe is best know for. But they are also known as artist and craftsmen. To make their dog hair blankets they raised specially bred woolly dogs for their hair, which they spun and wove into blankets. Their baskets were so tight woven that they could hold water, in some of them they could boil the water. Other examples of their incredible craftmanship are their waterproof skirts and hats. An important ingredient is using cedar, so it can shield against the heavy rainfall in the region.
Beliefs
Their beliefs have changed over time. Originally, they were a very spiritually people. If the boys wanted to, they could go on a quest to find their supernatural power, when reached puberty. At a certain age, the power would wear off. A very strong belief amongst them is that every person has their own guardian angel/protector, that they would pray to, along with the sun and Tsikáti (the universe). After the Europeans came they have lost and forgotten much of their original religion. One thing that has played an important part in all aspects of Quileute beliefs and culture is James Island, an visible island from First Beach, originally called "A-Ka-Lat" (Top of the Rock). The island was used as a fortress to keep opposing tribes out and served as a burial ground for chiefs.
Language.
The Quileute tribe is probably most well known for their unique language. They speak a language, called Quileute or Quillayute, which is part of the Chimakuan family of languages. The Chimakum, who also spoke a Chimakuan language, called Chemakum, Chimakum, or Chimacum were the only other group of people to speak a language from this language family. The Chimakum were almost wiped out in an encounter with Chief Sea'th'l (Seattle) and the Suquamish tribe in 1850, leaving them with only 90 people in 1855, and they were wiped out completely in 1860 in another encounter with Chief Sea'th'l and his tribe. Since the 1940s, the Chemakum language has died out completely.
But the Quileute language is still in use today, though it is in danger of dying out. It is spoken by only tribal elders at La Push, and some of the Makah people. The Quileute language is different from any other spoken in the world. This is because it uses no nasal sounds. The language has no "m" or "n" nasal sounds. The words in Quileute were very long and could sometimes express ideas rather than only words. The Quileute used one word for "those are the people who think that I am the one who is going to Forks," but, the word, kitlayakwokwilkwolasstaxasalas, is hardly shorter than the sentence. The tribe is now trying to prevent the loss of the language by teaching it in the Quileute Tribal School using books written for the students by the tribal elders.
Relationship with the white settlers
The Quileute relationship with the white European and American settlers was similar to many other tribes' experiences. The first contact occurred in 1775 when a Spanish ship missed its landing and the Quileutes took them as slaves. Therefore, right from the start, the Quileutes were looked upon by Europeans as vicious. This happened again in 1787 with a British ship and in 1808 with a Russian ship. The first official negotiations with Americans occurred in 1855 when Isaac I. Stevens and the Quileute signed the Treaty of Olympia. It said that the Quileute people needed to relocate to the Quinault reservation.
Nanahbozho, creator of the Earth, traveled to the north and built large fires, of which the lights are reflections, to remind people that he still thinks of them.
Fires in the far north. A tribe of dwarves, half the length of a canoe paddle but so strong they catch whales with their bare hands, boil blubber over the fires.
The Quileute Tribe
The Quileutes are originally from the west in Washington in the United States. They are also know as Quillayutes, for the moment they have a population of 750 people. After signing the Quinault Treaty in 1855, the Quileute people settled down at the Quileute Indian Reservation. the main population senter is the community of La Push, Washington. The population in La Push is 371 people, so almost all of the Quileutes live there. As a community they have their own government that rconsists of a tribal counsil. The current tribal counsil members are; Carol Hatch (chair), Tony Foste (vice-chair), DeAnna Hobson (secretary), and Anna Rose Counsell (treasurer).
Craftsmanship
The Quileute's were excellent boat makers, like many other tribes in the region, talented builders and craftsmen.Canoes for whaling, which could hold tons of cargo and many men, were some of the things they could make. They had cedar canoes ranging in size; from small boats that could hold two people to gaint vessels up to 58 meters long and capable of holding up to 6,000 pounds. Today, when making Clipper Ship's, they still uses a design very much like the canoes the Quileute's used. The Quileute's used the resources from the mother nature to make tools and other items they needed. in the entire region there were almost nothing that weren't made out of wood. Necessities like utensils, clothing, weapon and paint were made from the natural resources available to them. Dog hair blankets and their woven baskets is something The Quileute Tribe is best know for. But they are also known as artist and craftsmen. To make their dog hair blankets they raised specially bred woolly dogs for their hair, which they spun and wove into blankets. Their baskets were so tight woven that they could hold water, in some of them they could boil the water. Other examples of their incredible craftmanship are their waterproof skirts and hats. An important ingredient is using cedar, so it can shield against the heavy rainfall in the region.Beliefs
Their beliefs have changed over time. Originally, they were a very spiritually people. If the boys wanted to, they could go on a quest to find their supernatural power, when reached puberty. At a certain age, the power would wear off. A very strong belief amongst them is that every person has their own guardian angel/protector, that they would pray to, along with the sun and Tsikáti (the universe). After the Europeans came they have lost and forgotten much of their original religion. One thing that has played an important part in all aspects of Quileute beliefs and culture is James Island, an visible island from First Beach, originally called "A-Ka-Lat" (Top of the Rock). The island was used as a fortress to keep opposing tribes out and served as a burial ground for chiefs.Language.
The Quileute tribe is probably most well known for their unique language. They speak a language, called Quileute or Quillayute, which is part of the Chimakuan family of languages. The Chimakum, who also spoke a Chimakuan language, called Chemakum, Chimakum, or Chimacum were the only other group of people to speak a language from this language family. The Chimakum were almost wiped out in an encounter with Chief Sea'th'l (Seattle) and the Suquamish tribe in 1850, leaving them with only 90 people in 1855, and they were wiped out completely in 1860 in another encounter with Chief Sea'th'l and his tribe. Since the 1940s, the Chemakum language has died out completely.
But the Quileute language is still in use today, though it is in danger of dying out. It is spoken by only tribal elders at La Push, and some of the Makah people. The Quileute language is different from any other spoken in the world. This is because it uses no nasal sounds. The language has no "m" or "n" nasal sounds. The words in Quileute were very long and could sometimes express ideas rather than only words. The Quileute used one word for "those are the people who think that I am the one who is going to Forks," but, the word, kitlayakwokwilkwolasstaxasalas, is hardly shorter than the sentence. The tribe is now trying to prevent the loss of the language by teaching it in the Quileute Tribal School using books written for the students by the tribal elders.
Relationship with the white settlers
The Quileute relationship with the white European and American settlers was similar to many other tribes' experiences. The first contact occurred in 1775 when a Spanish ship missed its landing and the Quileutes took them as slaves. Therefore, right from the start, the Quileutes were looked upon by Europeans as vicious. This happened again in 1787 with a British ship and in 1808 with a Russian ship. The first official negotiations with Americans occurred in 1855 when Isaac I. Stevens and the Quileute signed the Treaty of Olympia. It said that the Quileute people needed to relocate to the Quinault reservation.WHAT DIFFERENT TRIBAL NAMES MEAN: