Masters of the Pacific Coast: The Tribes of the American Northwest

Two-part documentary in which archaeologist Dr. Jago Cooper explores the extraordinary and resilient culture of the American Northwest, revealing one the most inspiring stories in human history. Jago travels to southeast Alaska, British Columbia and Washington state to see how a complex society developed without agriculture. The answer lies in the extraordinary way in which the people understood and mastered their environment, which in turn is reflected in their identity and social structures. He reveals the hidden significance in totem poles, canoes and intricate textiles, arguing that the peoples of the Northwest Coast achieved the highest levels of cultural achievement.

Two-part documentary in which archaeologist Dr. Jago Cooper explores the culture of the American Northwest, revealing one the most inspiring stories in human history. In the second episode, Jago reveals how a cultural tradition that began over 10,000 years ago managed to survive against the odds. Following European contact, the indigenous peoples of what is now southeast Alaska, British Columbia and Washington state suffered disease, theft of their land and oppression. But Jago argues that northwest coast culture has an extraordinary resilience. Its connection to the land has been developed over thousands of years, which meant that it was able to adapt and transform when faced with threats and disruption. These qualities make it one of the longest continuous cultures in the Americas.