The societies of the pre contact pacific northwest can be defined by the statement "sharp social distinctions".
- Because of the rich natural resources that allowed for a high "carrying capacity" of the land: that is, reasonably predictable and sufficient food sources translated into a big population, the Pacific Northwest region was densely populated and culturally diversified. During the winter, most groups lived in huge, permanent towns. These towns served as the foundation for many Northwestern groups' political structures.
- People associated with their town, and towns formed bigger cultural and political groups through family and political ties. Each town was commanded by a secular leader descended from one of the town's powerful clans. Clans are groups of families who share a common ancestor and a stronger familial bond.
- Clans were frequently designated by a symbolic person or concept significant to the region. Clans in the Pacific Northwest, for example, were named after key species like ravens, salmon, eagles, and killer whales. Individuals, families, clans, and towns were all ranked in a complicated system of hierarchy that existed in Pacific Northwest societies.
Thus this is what defined the pacific northwest.
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