The Maritime Life of Native American Tribes: The Makah and Chumash

The lives of Native American tribes, particularly the Makah and Chumash, which are closely tied to marine environments, face significant challenges in maintaining their environment-based traditions amidst social changes and modern policies. This study aims to depict the lives of these two tribes and how they strive to preserve their identity and traditions in relation to environmental sustainability. The approach used in this study involves analyzing two documentary films, Neah Bay and Homecoming: Journey to Limuw (Stories from The Blue), which provide in-depth insight into the ecological and cultural traditions of the Makah and Chumash tribes. By employing an ecocritical perspectives, this study analyzes the narratives and imagery in the films to understand the representation of human-environment relationships presented within the context of indigenous cultures. The main findings indicate that both tribes continue to uphold environment-based traditions despite external pressures, emphasizing the importance of environmental preservation in their cultural life