Large redwood Yurok dugout canoe. Body is symmetrical.
Donor:
unknown
Collection place:
Northwestern California
Verbatim coll. place:
California; Northern California; Northwestern California
Culture or time period:
Northwestern California tribes
Collector:
unknown
Collection date:
unknown
Materials:
Redwood (wood)
Taxon:
Sequoia sempervirens
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Canoes
Function:
1.4 Transportation
Accession date:
unknown
Context of use:
Canoes were extensively used for transport and hunting. Canoes in Yurok culture are quite similar to cars in modern western culture in that about every family owned one, and if one didn't then they would pay to get around via canoe. It was much more efficient than traveling by foot. Canoes also had an important place in ceremonies, often the center of dances.