A tradition of the Chinook People is to record the significant events of one’s life by piercing their ears. According to Charles Cultee a Chinook baby has his or her ears pierced the first time at one month old. This was the first of many ear piercings that a person would have in their lifetime and was required to be a person of high status.
Lewis & Clark also mention Chinookan earpiercing in their journals.
At the top of this page is a photograph of Tonwa Redhead-Pickernell proudly showing her pierced ears, and a page from the Lewis & Clark Journals that illustrates their interest in this important tradition
