The Ozette Prairies of Olympic National Park - Natural Resources ...

together to one place. (If they went by canoe to collect shellfish, the men took them because it was too
dangerous for women to handle canoes.) Men did little work while the women were picking berries or
sprouts. They watched what the women were doing or tried to hunt. They occasionally helped women
pick berries or collect sprouts. [p. 56] People from different families hunted elk under the leadership of a
hunter, and the kill was divided among the participating groups/hunters.
[p. 57] Labor may be classified into specialized, ceremonial and common labor. Fishing, picking berries
and digging roots could be done by everyone. Specialized labor like canoe-making, elk-hunting, shamanism
was carried on by a few who claimed the spirit power to engage in such tasks. Ceremonial labor was
done only by those who were so entitled by exceptional spirit help or by hereditary entitlement….Upriver
people among the Quileute were expert in all types of hunting….Most elk hunters with elk hunting
power lived in upriver communities.
[p. 58] Labor was also organized along lines of sex, age and status. Women prepared food, hides and
furs; they wove mats and baskets, gathered and stored food, collected roots, picked berries and herbs and
firewood, and carried burdens. Men rarely did women’s work. If they did and were caught at it, they
became a laughing stock. Men worked nettle fibers into nets, Women performed every activity in weaving
baskets and mats, from obtaining the raw materials to making the basket or mat. Men made rope of
spruce roots, withes, cedar bark or whale sinew. A few activities such as digging roots were performed
jointly…During each season, a person had many choices of work. He could select fishing, hunting berry
picking, root digging, preservation activities, foraging for manufacturing materials, etc. His decision
depended upon (1) what was available or in season, (2) comparative yields, (3) his special ritual power,
and (4) the needs of his family…. Myths and stories indicate that skill rather than hard work warranted
pride. But the reputation of being a hard worker was useful….Because of abundant resources the tribes
had much leisure time beyond economic activities. They did not have to work the year round, and their
productive activities did not exhaust their waking hours. There was no great difference between rich,
poor and slave in food and living standards.
[p. 61] Capital. Capital is conceived here as a factor of production. It has value and may yield income to
its owner or users. Capital includes equipment, tools, and other agencies of production. Through the use
of capital, the Indians were able to produce commodities…Another form of capital included knowledge
of tools and natural resources and potencies conferred by spirits. [p. 63] Capital was owned by the individual,
family, or village. Ownership depended upon the nature of the capital goods. Weirs…canoes…
Helpers were given shares of the product. He never employed a person for wages….Slaves and dogs
were inherited, not killed. Sons received all the slaves and daughters inherited wool-producing dogs.
[p. 64] Seasonal Economic Activities. Intensive economic activity followed periods of relaxation and
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