Late WINTER PNWAS,
Thursday, February 19th, 2026
The Undervalued Chiton as a Shellfish Resource on the Northwest Coast of North America
By Dr. Dale R. Croes, W.S.U./PNWAS
Thursday, February 19th, 2026
The Undervalued Chiton as a Shellfish Resource on the Northwest Coast of North America
By Dr. Dale R. Croes, W.S.U./PNWAS
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Black Katy Chitons, from top and underside; an amazing food source and important animal
in stories of Northwest Coast Peoples
in stories of Northwest Coast Peoples
PNWAS ZOOM Meeting
Thursday February 19th 2026
starting at 6:30 PM
To join the ZOOM Meeting and see the presentation
please become a member today!
Thursday February 19th 2026
starting at 6:30 PM
To join the ZOOM Meeting and see the presentation
please become a member today!
For the past 10 years I have been studying and publishing on the importance of chitons as a food source and in the oral history of Northwest Coast Peoples. As a food the western world rarely eats, we tend to ignore their considerable importance in the archaeological shell middens from the earliest periods on the entire Pacific NW Coast (see endowed chiton maps of sites of importance to this presentation).
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Archaeological and Cultural Area sites revealing importance of Black Katy Chitons to the foods and oral histories of the
entire northern and southern Northwest Coast (Map by longtime member Vic Kucera).
entire northern and southern Northwest Coast (Map by longtime member Vic Kucera).
In earlier writings I explored their sometimes-substantial infra-structural contribution to the shellfish diet as found in archaeological shell middens on the Northern and Central Pacific Northwest Coast (see left map, above). Some recent research reflects high chiton-use data from the Southern Northwest Coast, along the Oregon coast, with similar patterns emerging (see right map, above). I begin this presentation summarizing the northern importance and then explore the preliminary research on the Southern Northwest Coast. Also, I elaborate further on ethnographic research on the critical importance of chiton in a book, Entering Time, covering the Haida Creation of Humans story. This small book explores Haida Master Artist Charles Edenshaw’s argillite platters depicting culture hero/trickster Raven hunting supernatural chitons (Chiton/Vulvas) in order to establish and perpetuate humans through the capturing of female Tsaw, the Haida word for female reproductive organs (Browne 2016).
Therefore, on a very super-structural level, we continue to see chitons playing a key role in the actual existence of people and their ability to continue themselves and their cultural developments in this world (see one of his argillite platters, below).
Therefore, on a very super-structural level, we continue to see chitons playing a key role in the actual existence of people and their ability to continue themselves and their cultural developments in this world (see one of his argillite platters, below).
Charles Edenshaw (attr.) Seattle Art Museum argillite platter
(one of three, and c. 1885; 32.9 x 5.7 cm) depicting Raven with
spear hunting Twas, a combination of chiton and female
genitalia. As steersman, bracken fungus man, galaga snaanga,
is freaked out and/or stimulated as they confront the power of
Twas, depicted as a spirit-like power under the canoe, on the small rocky island of twas gwaayaay (literally “Vagina
Island”), Haida Gwaii (see left map, above). With fungus
man, Raven succeeds in spearing two Tsaw and brings them
back for Eagle woman and Raven woman on shore. (Image
obtained courtesy of the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle
91.1.127).
I believe this is ample archaeological and ethnographic evidence to show that chitons were particularly valued by people on the north, central, and now southern Northwest Coast of North America; chitons are certainly not acknowledged in the outside Western scientific perspectives.
Through these studies, I believe this work may be key to recognizing chitons in the Northwest Coast archaeological studies. Time to scientifically “lift the blinders” and “chew” the chitons!
Through these studies, I believe this work may be key to recognizing chitons in the Northwest Coast archaeological studies. Time to scientifically “lift the blinders” and “chew” the chitons!
