First Nations and indigenous peoples have called the Pacific Northwest region of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and Alaska home for thousands of years.
There are countless Native American cultural sites in the Pacific Northwest where visitors can explore indigenous heritage and traditions. Here are some of the best.
1. Lewis and Clark NHP, Oregon and Washington
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is named for explorers of European descent, but the park also tells the stories of the indigenous people and communities they encountered on their journey across North America, like Sacagawea, the famed guide who was a Lemhi Shoshone from Idaho.
Park visitors can take a walking tour through a Chinook trade village or learn about native uses of plants in the Ethnobotanical Garden designed in collaboration with the Clatsop tribe.
2. Tlingit Cultural Center, Teslin, Canada
The small village of Teslin has one of the largest populations of First Nations people in the Yukon Territory of Canada. Though traditionally a coastal people, the Teslin Tlingit moved inland in search of furs and built a thriving community with a rich heritage.
That heritage is on display at the beautiful Teslin Tlingit Cultural Center, which features locally carved totem poles, bowls, beaded crafts, and other artwork. Hide-tanning demonstrations and other artist workshops are available to visitors.
3. Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada
Stanley Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vancouver, BC, and one of its most photographed spots is its collection of totem poles. Totem poles are one of the most iconic and beautiful examples of traditional Pacific Northwestern art. They often commemorate significant ancestors, events, or stories.
These sculptures are displayed near Brockton Point, along with other First Nations art and a gift shop. The totems have been collected for decades from around British Columbia to represent the First Nations heritage integral to the region.
4. Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area, Washington
The Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area (Greenway NHA) is a collection of 11 sites that protect and share the ancestral homelands and heritage of the tribal communities of Washington State.
Explorers can build a trip around these sites across the state, from the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center–a central site for the host tribe of Seattle–to the Colville Tribal Museum near the Grand Coulee Dam. The Greenway NHA also features the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, which is the headquarters for the United Indians and cultural center for Indians of all tribes.
5. Sitka NHP, Alaska
Sitka National Historical Park in Sitka, Alaska features a collection of Tlingit art, drums, robes, canoes, and an avenue of totem poles. The park’s film and visitor center exhibits tell the story of the coastal Tlingit people, who have called the area home from time immemorial. Local Tlingit artists regularly demonstrate weaving, carving, and metalworking.
Sitka is a common stop for cruise ships exploring the Alaskan coast, and Sitka NHP is one of the most easily accessible places for these visitors to explore the culture of the Tlingit people.
More sites
For more info, check out these sites:
- Read more about a trip to the spectacular Makah Museum in the essay The Best Hidden Gems on the Olympic Peninsula.
- Explore a comprehensive list of tribal museums and cultural sites in Washington State.
- Learn about the Xunaa Shuká Hít, the Huna Tribal House built to honor ancestors and communicate Huna Tlingit heritage in Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska,
With such a rich and timeless heritage, there are too many PNW indigenous cultural sites to name here. Explore them, and add your own favorite in the comments.