In this article Ray suggests five aspects of historical relationship between the culture of the Lower Chinook (the Chinook, Clatsop, and the Kathlamet) and the surrounding cultures particularly in reference to the tribal groups of the desert Plateau, and the Pacific Northwest coast (e.g., the Haida, Kwakiutl, and Tlingit). These five aspects are: (1) an old underlying stratum of culture extending over the whole of northwestern America, illustrated by the political unit and the territorial tie; (2) a relatively recent overlay upon this old stratum, illustrated by the institution of the potlatch; (3) the presence of comparatively old traits of foreign origin, as representative of attitudes toward rank and class; (4) the fusion of two or more foreign traits of disparate origin, as seen in the guardian spirit ceremonies; and (5) the presence of foreign traits of recent introduction such as the secret societies. The major portion of this document involves the cultural comparisons of these five aspects in reference to the various ethnic societies listed above.