What Did the Makah Indians Eat?

The Makah Indians have lived in the Northwestern United States for over three thousand years. The people live in the town currently known as Neah Bay, Washington on the Pacific Ocean. However, it’s important to learn about the history of this tribe and its culture.

The Makah Indians ate a diet which was varied and specific to their geographical surroundings. Their proximity to the ocean allowed their diet to consist mostly of seafood including:

• Whales
• Fish
• Crabs
• Seals
• Sea otters

Although the Makah were skilled whalers and fisherman they also were adept at hunting on land. They enjoyed living in a region with diverse and abundant food including deer, elk, rabbits, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Importance of Whaling

Whales provided the Makah Indian with food and raw materials and for this reason they had great spiritual significance. The tribe would travel far from land in large cedar canoes to hunt gray and humpback whales. Once the whale was killed, a diver would attach a tow line and the whale would be towed back to shore.

Traditional ceremonies and songs would be performed to celebrate the successful capture of a whale. The raw materials from the whale including oil and bones would be passed out to the people. Traditionally, a great feast would occur soon after the capture of a whale.

Whaling still remains an important part of the Makah culture although laws limiting the hunting of endangered animals were passed in the 20th century which stopped the people from whaling except for ceremonial purposes.

Makah Language

The Makah language lost its last fluent native speaker in 2002. However, there are still speakers that are partially fluent. Thus, the language still survives as a second language and the Makah are trying to revive the language by teaching it to their youth in school. Their language is the only Wakashan language that remains in the United States. 

Ozette Archaeological Dig

Much of what is known about the Makah people was preserved during a mudslide that engulfed a Makah village near Lake Ozette in the early 17th century. The mudslide preserved a large part of the town which was excavated in the 1970s.

The excavation confirmed the tribe’s oral history of the “great slide” which destroyed a village. The Makah people worked with archaeologists to recover over 55,000 artifacts including:

• Whaling and fishing tools
• Toys
• Games
• Weapons

Archaeologist Richard Daughtery excavated test pits in the area in the late 1960s, but it was not apparent until the 1970s that a village was buried in the area. A storm in February 1970 exposed many well preserved artifacts which prompted Washington State University to send an archaeological team to the area.

The excavation lasted nearly 11 years and the artifacts discovered can be found in the Makah Cultural and Research Center. The museum includes replicas of Makah houses as well as whaling and fishing vessels. 

Modern Makah People

The Makah people signed the Makah constitution in 1936 and thereby accepted the Indian Reorganization Act. Their government consists of five tribal council members who elect a tribal chairperson every year.

The 1999 census data showed that the Makah tribe had just over 1200 members. In late August of every year, the Makah people celebrate Makah days which include canoe races, singing, games, feasts, and fireworks.

The modern Makah people earn a living from fishing halibut and salmon. They are the only tribe recognized by the government of the United States with a treaty right to hunt whales. This was controversial because many people fear that this will lead to the commercialization of whaling once again, but the Makah insist that the whaling will only be done for ceremonial purposes.