Makah Culture as presented at the Makah Cultural and Research Center Museum of the Makah Indian Nation

The Makah museum houses 300-500 year old artifacts recovered from the Ozette Archeological Site which had ben covered by a mud slide some 500 years ago.  This was a village on the coast.  The museum presents much of this culture which included whaling, fishing with nets for salmon, seal hunting. The seal clubs, made for hitting the seal in the head take the shape of seals.  The whale boats were very interesting with eight people in each whale boat.  Only a member of the chief's family would man the harpoon.  When the speared the whale a bladder attached to the rope would slow the whale down.  When the whale was killed one member of the crew had to quickly jump into the water and sew the mouth of the whale shut so it would stay afloat and would be easier to bring to shore.

The museum did not allow pictures but these are from the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles

This shows the rope and bladder that would tire the whale

While whale hunting presented it problems, the seal hunting also had special tools.  There was a long two-pronged spear with which to attack the seal at enough distance it couldn't get to you.  The seal clubs were also very interesting and very artistic.  They would often be carved to look like a seal.

picture borrowed from internet

One of the most fascinating things were the boxes used for storage.  These would be on fishing boats, or in the home.  Rather than use separate pieces, one board would be used, and carved thin in the corners, and then folded to make a box after a bottom was added.  It was amazing the craftsmanship  put into the boxes.

The Makah people used cedar bark for making many things, including matts, hats and clothes.  The bark would be peeled, and then pounded to make it softer, and then woven into many different materials.  This is the only material that survived from 500 years ago but it is believed there must have been other materials used that decayed over time.  

The long houses built by the Makah people were very large.  More than one family would live in a house and each family would have their own section.  The ability of the Makah people as demonstrated by the long houses and the boxes was superb.

There was netting discovered amongst the artifact at the Ozette site thus proving that using nets to catch salmon was a cultural activity of the Makah.  

Artifacts for game playing were also found at the site.  Art was put into many of the artifacts.