10/12/2026
Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day, where we recognize and celebrate the history and culture of Indigenous people all across the nation. 🐾✨
The Coast Salish People of our own Pacific Northwest once developed a breed of dog that we now call the "Salish wool dog". These dogs grew a fur so thick and warm that it rivaled the quality of European fleece, and was used to make textiles like rugs and blankets. These dogs were not pets; they were seen as close relatives, near human, with wisdom to share, and the materials made from their wool had great cultural and spiritual significance. According to the Salish origin story, the tribes' women were taught how to weave wool by the dogs themselves.
The Salish wool dog went extinct in the late 1800s due to the suppression of Indigenous cultures, making it a beautiful but tragically lost piece of Salish history.
You can learn more about the Coast Salish people and other Indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest by visiting the Museum of Natural and Culture History right here in Eugene!
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