Ewok Ewoks were a diminutive species of furry bipeds native to the forest moon of Endor . They were most notable for helping the Rebel Alliance defeat the forces of the Galactic Empire at the Battle of Endor , allowing the shield generator there to be destroyed , and in turn , the Death Star II . Ewoks were individuals that stood about one meter tall . They used spears , slings , and knives as weapons ; they also used hang gliders as vehicles . Although skilled in forest survival and the construction of primitive technology , the Ewoks had yet to progress past stone - level technology when discovered by the Empire . They were quick learners , however , when exposed to advanced technology with simple mechanical processes and concepts . Biology and appearance . Ewoks were sentient humanoid s , averaging about one meter in height . Omnivorous , they were covered in fur from head to toe , with brown and black as the most common colors . Most Ewoks had solid - colored fur , though a few sported stripes . Ewoks had large , bright eye s , small humanoid noses , and hands that possessed two fingers and an opposable thumb . Despite their small size , Ewoks were physically strong enough to overpower combat - trained human s . History . Despite their primitive technology and their isolated homeworld , Ewoks were not totally unknown in the wider galaxy ; during the Clone Wars , " Ewok Jerky " was sold at Power Sliders , a diner on the planet Abafar . When the Galactic Empire began operations on the moon of Endor , they razed an Ewok village to erect a shield generator complex , forcing the few that survived to a close neighboring village led by Chief Chirpa . Prince ss Leia Organa , part of a Rebel strike team , met and befriended Wicket W . Warrick , who took her back to his village as an honored guest . Meanwhile , another group of Ewoks captured Luke Skywalker , Chewbacca , Han Solo , R2 - D2 , and C - 3PO . When these Ewoks saw the protocol droid C - 3PO , they identified him as a god . Despite Wicket and Organa ' s protests , the Ewok shaman Logray would have sacrificed them as a feast in C - 3PO ' s honor . Skywalker ' s use of the Force to make C - 3PO levitate combined with droid ' s warnings soon changed Chief Chirpa ' s mind , however . That night , C - 3PO told the Council of Elders the adventures of the Rebel heroes . The Ewoks accepted the Rebels into their tribe , and allied themselves to their cause . The Ewoks helped in the ground battle to destroy the Imperial shield generator on the forest floor , and their primitive weapons felled the stormtrooper s and the scout walkers of the Empire , although they took many losses to Imperial blaster fire . Their assistance paved the way for the destruction of the Death Star II and the Rebel victory at the Battle of Endor . Later that night , the Ewoks held a huge celebration that could be heard throughout the forest . As a manner of recompense for saving Endor , some Ewoks agreed to travel offworld to help Rebel veterans recuperate , working with Doctor Arsad as " therapy Ewoks . " Therapy Ewoks were offered to those who had suffered the horrors of war , such as witnessing tragedy , and needed help with their recovery . Those that found this option distasteful were sometimes given the use of a therapy droid instead . By 2 years after the Battle of Endor , many Ewoks had became caf farmer s . Culture . By the time of the Galactic Civil War , the Ewoks had reached a level of civilization where they engaged in religious , artistic , medical , and even political activities , and spoke in their own native tongue of Ewokese . Nevertheless , they still focused most of their energies on the daily provision of food . They had acquired knowledge of pottery , hunting , the construction of complex wooden structures as well as the creation of fire . While most of their lives would be spent in the treetops , several members of the tribe would be required to venture out on the forest floor to forage for berries , gather herbs , and hunt . During warm summer months , some Ewoks stayed in fishing villages or hunting and farming lodges on the forest floor . Utilizing ponies and bordok s to haul loads of supplies between settlements , they nonetheless kept their guard up for ferocious predators and other sentient creatures such as the Yuzzum s . Ewoks lived high among the trees of the forest moon of Endor , in villages built between the closely spaced trees . The canopies of the great trees were filled with watchers who could alert the tribe of approaching gorax or condor dragon s , and could use gliders to patrol the lands beyond their local village . Bachelors , on the other hand , often lived on the ground and kept watch for even greater dangers such as Dulok s , who often emerged from the swamps to prey on Ewoks and lantern bird s . The Ewoks were a deeply spiritual people . They revered the surrounding giant trees and believed themselves to be descendants of the " Great Tree , " a sacred tree in the forests . The conifer trees where Ewoks lived were also fire resistant , and served as a natural insect repellent . The basic design of a tree village had a " Central Village " of thatched - roof huts on the primary limbs . These huts were high enough above the ground to be out of reach of predators . Suspended bridges connected the gaps between trees , adjoining distant huts . Knotted rope ladders allowed access up or down . Food , kindling , and other provisions would be kept under the floor of the Ewoks ' houses , while woven sleeping mats and furs were stored in the lofts above . Hoods , capes , and tools hung on the walls . In Ewok society , the most important people were the chief , the medicine man , and the Council of Elders , with a different council leading each individual Ewok tribe . The Ewoks enjoyed singing and playing music during celebrations , festivals , and rituals . During the Ewok and Rebel celebration after the destruction of the Death Star II , one Ewok in Bright Tree Village used a series of Imperial stormtrooper and naval trooper helmets as drums , producing a variety of tones . The Ewoks used a variety of weapons that included nets , knives , stone spears , slingshots , bows , arrow s , wooden battering rams , rolling logs , and catapults . During the Battle of Endor , they threw large rocks at stormtroopers , used ropes to dismount scout trooper s from their speeder bikes , and tripped and crushed the larger AT - STs with logs . Notable hunters slit the throats of Imperial officers with their knives . In addition , they were at least familiar with the movements of walkers , as evidenced by two of the Ewoks piloting an AT - ST alongside Chewbacca shortly after hijacking it . Behind the scenes . George Lucas intended that a primitive race should overthrow the Empire in what was intended at that time to be the final episode , and had originally planned to use Wookiee s , but decided against it after it had been established that Chewbacca was already proficient with technology at that point . His answer was to create a new race called Ewoks , which is " Wookiee " with the syllables reversed ( and altered to resemble the name of a ) . In the audio commentary for the 2004 re - release of " Return of the Jedi " , as well as the documentary " Empire of Dreams " , Lucas also cited the as being the primary inspiration for the Ewoks , particularly their defeat of the Galactic Empire . The Ewoks are never referred to by name in " " dialogue ; the name only appeared in the script directions , the , the movie ' s credits , and other spin - off and promotional materials .