Chinook - A tribe, noted as traders and fisherman, living on the Columbia River on the West Coast.  In their contact with other tribes and with the white man , especially with the fur traders at Astoria, Oregon, the Chinook Jargon was developed, as the Chinook language itself was difficult to learn and pronounce.

The Chinook used dugout canoes and lived in wood houses.  They were taller than most other Pacific Coast Indians and had wider faces and high narrow noses.  They deformed their skulls by pressure when young, and considered a naturally formed skull a disgrace, permitted only to slaves.

The name was given to towns in Washington and Montana.

Related Information within this Site
[ Chinook Jargon ][ Clatsop ][ Comcomly ][ Flatheads ][ Fur Trade ]