Northwest Coast society was characterized by its

Question

declining population.
growing poverty.
social equality.
strict social classes.

Answer 1

Northwest Coast society was characterized by strict social classes. The societies in this region, which included various Indigenous nations such as the Haida, Tlingit, and Kwakiutl, had well-defined social hierarchies. These often included elites (such as chiefs and nobles), commoners, and sometimes enslaved individuals. The social structure was tied to lineage, wealth, and access to resources, with significant roles played by potlatch ceremonies that reinforced social status and relationships.