Final answer:
Characteristic features of a Tlingit community house on the Northwest Coast include totemic symbolism representing clans, permanent large structures integral to social and political life, and cultural artifacts like raven rattles and ceremonial blankets that embody complex hierarchies and the relationship with the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
One characteristic feature of native cultures on the Northwest Coast of North America, particularly a Tlingit community house, is the totemic symbolism representing various aspects of their culture and kinship systems. Clans, a foundational element of the societal structure within the Tlingit and other Northwest Coast groups, were often represented by totems depicting significant animals like the raven, salmon, eagle, and killer whale. These totems were deeply integrated into their art, spirituality, and social organization, reflecting the profound relationship between the people and the bountiful resources, especially the revered salmon, provided by the West Coast environment.
The large, permanent community houses were central to the social and political life within these groups. They were constructed to withstand the region's mild climate and to house the complex hierarchical society renowned for its ceremonies, such as the potlatch, which reinforced their social structures. These community houses often featured elaborate carvings and designs reflecting the clan totems and the rich cultural narratives of the region's indigenous peoples.
Ceremonial items like the raven rattle, used in shamanic rituals, and prestigious objects such as Tlingit ceremonial blankets, with their distinctive patterns and symbols, further illustrate the importance of these totemic representations in the everyday and spiritual life on the Northwest Coast.