“Nootkan” or “Chinook” canoes were the type used by Native peoples from the Columbia River northward to Vancouver Island. They were among the few dugout canoe forms specifically designed to withstand the demanding conditions of the open ocean. Their distinctive shape provided stability and seaworthiness while allowing them to manage the surf and swells of the Pacific coast. These canoes were used for travel, fishing, and hunting, including the pursuit of whales and other large marine animals.