Final answer:
Western Native American tribes along the West Coast, including the Pacific Northwest and California, were predominantly hunter-gatherers with a diet rich in fish, particularly salmon, and other natural resources like acorns. They lived in stratified societies with political systems based on towns and clans, and had complex religious practices, as demonstrated by the Kuksu religion in Northern California.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of Western Native American Tribes:
The Western Native American tribes, especially those along the West Coast including the Pacific Northwest and California, displayed unique characteristics in their lifestyles, political structure, and dietary habits. These tribes were predominantly hunter-gatherers, with fishing, particularly salmon fishing, playing a major role in their subsistence. The Pacific Northwest was home to a culturally diverse population, due in part to the rich natural resources that allowed for a high carrying capacity of the land.
In California, a crucial part of the diet was acorns, which were highly nutritious and could be stored long-term but required substantial labor to prepare, being pounded into flour and cooked to become edible. Some groups also cultivated tobacco. These tribes did not necessarily see a transition to agricultural lifestyles as 'progress,' since evidence suggests that their diet may have been superior to that of agriculturalists. They lived in semi-sedentary villages and formed complex societies with stratified social structures.
Political organizations in the Pacific Northwest were based on large, permanent towns, with a secular leader drawn from a prominent clan. These towns and clans were interconnected, and clans were often named after important regional animals like the raven or the salmon. Societies were highly stratified, with an intricate hierarchy. In addition to their economical and social organization, religious practices also played a significant role, such as the Kuksu religion in Northern California, which aimed at renewing the world to its original, sacred state through secret male societies.