The coastal peoples of the northern Pacific focused their navigation on the islands, shores and river estuaries of North America. Their explorations took them north and south, where they relied on the technique of coastal navigation, using coastal landmarks such as rock formations, island straits and the mouths of rivers to guide their expeditions. The vast expanse of the northern Pacific has no mid-ocean islands, so unlike other Pacific seafarers such as the Polynesians, they could not navigate to distant archipelagos to the west. In addition to geography, the craft of Pacific Northwestern First Nations is a consideration. Their canoes were paddled, using the muscles and energy of those aboard to power the journey. It would have been difficult to undertake long journeys away from the shore, where necessary food, water and resting areas were located.
Over centuries, or perhaps even millennia, the coastal peoples of the Pacific Northwest built up trade networks. The resources unique to each region, such as shells, obsidian, animal skins and fish, were traded for raw materials, crafted tools, pipes, blankets, jewelry and even people. The routes used by traders show how far First Nations seafarers were traveling, and how far their knowledge of other nations and their resources extended.
Obsidian is a dark, natural volcanic glass that is found in a few special locations in what are now Alaska, Oregon and Washington states and British Columbia. It has been used to make sharp cutting tools for 9000 years and was especially valuable before tools made from metals like iron become available. Although obsidian is only found at inland sites, obsidian blades were important to coastal peoples. The rivers flowing into the Pacific were used as trade routes: obsidian was exchanged for specialties of the coast, such as whalebone clubs made by the Nuu-chah-nulth of Vancouver Island and sea shells.
Sea shells were prized for their beauty and colour. Dentalia shells from Nuu-chah-nulth territory on western Vancouver Island were used by the Yurok of California as currency. Abalone from Monterey, California, was brought north, where the iridescent mother-of-pearl was treasured and used for pendants. This kind of trade up and down the coast was thriving in the 18th century, on routes used for thousands of years. Goods were traded over 2000 kilometres from their source and it is said that the Haida travelled as far as California for the trade in slaves which were captured or purchased from other First Nations.. Expeditions of exploration uncovered these paths.
