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Origin Pre-War Post-War What Outsiders Know The Reality Population Territory and Locations Neah Bay Organization Government, National and Local Justice, Social Control, Punishment Political Factions, Dissent Famous/Infamous Persons Relationships with Other Groups Culture Ethnic Groups, Immigration and Emigration Social Divisions and Castes Religion, Beliefs and Superstition Morality and Values Progress and Failure Family, Age, Sexuality and Gender Education and Language Environment and Agriculture Food Art and Entertainment, Music, Literature, Recreation Fashion and Appearance Urban and Rural Areas, Architecture Equipment and Resources Economy Science, Medicine and Technology Weapons and Military Equipment Communications Vehicles Aircraft Watercraft

 

 

 

     Descended from a Native American tribe in Washington state, they are notable fishermen and whalers, as well as lumbermen and boat-builders.  

     Their own name for the tribe is Kwidich-chuaxt, but Makah is in common use. The tribe's symbol is an eagle carrying a whale in its talons -- it's seen on flags, carved on poles, etc.

Origin

 

Pre-War

     About a thousand members of the recognized tribe lived at and near Neah Bay, near the northwest tip of the Olympic Peninsula. They were fairly poor (about half were unemployed); alcohol and narcotic abuse was common. The main employment was in the ocean fishing industry.

 

Post-War

     The region around Neah Bay was isolated by fallout and the nuclear winter after the Atomic War.

 

What Outsiders Know

    

     Outside of the Northwest, they are unknown. The tribe is by the River Folk, and educated folk in Oregon City and Corvallis know about them.

 

The Reality

     A bustling, growing community!

 

Population

     About 15,000 people live in the Makah territory; about 85% of those are of the Makah culture. Others are Chinook, Russian, and even a few Mountain Walkers.

 

Territory and Locations

     Their villages and towns are entirely along the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula, along the Straits.

 

Neah Bay

 

     The largest town in Makah territory, with a population of 3,000 persons.

 

Organization

 

Government, National and Local

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Justice, Social Control, Punishment

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Political Factions, Dissent

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Famous/Infamous Persons

 

     Blah blah ...

 

Relationships with Other Groups

     The Makah have good relations with the Mountain Walkers, River Folk, the Chinook and the Democratic Republic of America.

     However, the Nootka, from Vancouver Island, are a constant enemy. The Nootka are skilled fisherman, but also launch raids across the Straits, taking slaves and booty. They use primitive weapons, and use large 40-man canoes to cross the Straits. They trade slaves to various obscure groups along the Canadian coast.

     The Purists don't like the Makah, who are happy to dislike them back.

 

Culture

 

Ethnic Groups, Immigration and Emigration

 

     The ancestry of the 22nd Century Makah is about 75% from the pre-Atomic War tribe. The tribe isn't opposed to immigration, but there hasn't been much. Anyone wishing to settle here would have to subscribe to the Makah rules and laws, and join one of the kinship groups.

 

Social Divisions and Castes

     Blah blah ...

 

Religion, Beliefs and Superstition

     The first salmon catch of the spring signals a big feast and holiday.

     There was a lot of distrust and animosity towards the United States government (and the Washington state government, too) at the time of the Atomic War. The current Makah don't have any strong hatred of the United States -- any more than 20th Century Americans hate the British government.

 

Morality and Values

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Progress and Failure

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Family, Age, Sexuality and Gender

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Education and Language

     90% of the Makah are literate in Ancient (with some recent Russian terms) and Modern Makah (though spelling is not very standardized); many know the Chinook Wawa trade language, or other local languages.

 

Environment and Agriculture

     Blah blah ...

 

Food

     Abalone, cod, mackerel, salmon, clams, rockfish, crabs, tuna, halibut, mussels, sole, bass, prawns, shrimp, marlin, scallops, skates, herring, seals, whales ... if it's found in the water, the Makah eat it. The largest fishing harvests are of cod, salmon, and (especially) halibut, plus steelhead in the rivers.

 

Art and Entertainment, Music, Literature, Recreation

     Some Makah have been attempting to get a dictionary of their language printed, and to start production of school texts also. As it is, Ancient and English are the language of educated people, and have a higher status than the Makah language.

 

Fashion and Appearance

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Urban and Rural Areas, Architecture

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Equipment and Resources

 

Economy

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Science, Medicine and Technology

     They use modern technology, including motorboats and rifles. Many of their more technical "bits" come from very far away -- light bulbs, for example, come from the City of Light, and are hence very expensive.

 

 

Weapons and Military Equipment

     The Makah have traded with the DRA for better weapons. They also have a few large-caliber rifles, used in whale hunting, but of course quite deadly on dry land also.

 

Communications

     A very few simple radios have been purchased from the DRA, but for the most part flag systems are the only long-range communications method around. There are books in English (mostly printed in Oregon City, in the Willamette Valley), but no newspapers.

 

Vehicles

     Horses, and some horse carts and wagons.

 

Aircraft

     None.

 

Watercraft

     The Makah have many motorboats, large and small canoes, sailing vessels ...