BBC Four HD

Jago Cooper

IWC Media

Tom Stubberfield

Aisling O'Connor

Chris Sutcliffe

Tim Young

Roshan Samarasinghe

Jonathan Warne

Judith Connell

Pamela Nelson

John Davy

Eric Smith

Jonathan Scott

Dave Murricane

Masters of the Pacific Coast: The Tribes of the American Northwest: Episode 1: Arrival

Documentaries

Arrival

Episode 1

Episode 1: Arrival

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

BBC Four - Masters of the Pacific Coast: The Tribes of the American Northwest, Arrival

Jago Cooper finds out how a complex society developed without agriculture.

Dr Jago Cooper travels to south east Alaska, British Columbia and Washington state to see how a complex society developed without agriculture.

Two-part documentary in which archaeologist Dr Jago Cooper explores the extraordinary and resilient culture of the American north west, revealing one the most inspiring stories in human history.

1,400 miles of rugged, windswept and rocky coastline in what is now the Alaskan panhandle, British Columbia and Washington state have been home to hundreds of distinct communities for over 10,000 years. Theirs is the longest continuing culture to be found anywhere in the Americas. They mastered a tough environment to create unique and complex communities that have redefined how human societies develop. They produced art infused with meaning that ranks alongside any other major civilisation on earth. And they were very nearly wiped out - by foreign disease, oppression and theft of their lands. But a deep connection to the environment lies at the heart of their endurance and, unlike many indigenous cultures annihilated following European contact, their culture sustains and has much to offer the rest of the world today.

Jago sees 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 north west coast achieved the highest levels of cultural achievement.

BBC Four

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Factual: History

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Dr Jago Cooper explores the extraordinary and resilient culture of the American Northwest.

Dr Jago Cooper explores the extraordinary and resilient culture of the American Northwest, revealing one the most inspiring stories in human history.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

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

Episode 1: Arrival

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Four HD

About BBC Four