This Coast Salish Indian Tribe have had to fight for their survival in this borderlands place. Culture played such huge role is keeping the Coast Salish, essentially, alive.  British Columbia and Washington State are what separate this people group. The families had to often travel between these borders for difference family events, celebrations, etc. The biggest issue that came about for the Coast Salish was the issue of schooling. In order to resist division, the Coast Salish attended government boarding schools in order to flee assimilation and more importantly racism. All the Coast Salish wanted to do was to keep their traditions and culture and not have to assimilate.
I couldn't imagine being faced with this kind of lifestyle. America is supposed to be the "freest" state, yet this people group was not free at all. All a people grow has to pass down to their generation is their cultural traditions. That shouldn't be taken away from them.