Native AmericansNative Americans

The First AmericansThe First Americans

Native Americans Native Americans were the first people were the first people to live in America.to live in America.

They believed that They believed that the land was for the land was for everyone to use and everyone to use and share.share.

Some were hunters Some were hunters and some were and some were farmers.farmers.

Cultural RegionsCultural Regions Not all Native Americans Not all Native Americans

looked alike or acted looked alike or acted alike.alike.

Each had different Each had different cultures and customs like cultures and customs like people today.people today.

Five major regions were Five major regions were the Great Plains, Eastern the Great Plains, Eastern Woodlands, Southeast, Woodlands, Southeast, Southwest Desert and Southwest Desert and Northwest Coast.Northwest Coast.

Each cultural region was Each cultural region was made up of many tribes.made up of many tribes.

Eastern WoodlandsEastern Woodlands

These Native These Native Americans lived Americans lived east of the east of the Mississippi River in Mississippi River in wooded areas. wooded areas. They relied heavily They relied heavily on the rich forest on the rich forest resources of their resources of their surroundings for surroundings for survival. survival.

Life in the WoodlandsLife in the Woodlands They used wood from the forests to They used wood from the forests to

make weapons, tools, canoes, many make weapons, tools, canoes, many daily items, and even their clothes. daily items, and even their clothes.

They hunted animals for food and then They hunted animals for food and then used the animal skins and furs for used the animal skins and furs for clothing. They also fished and grew clothing. They also fished and grew crops, including corn, beans, and squash.crops, including corn, beans, and squash.

They felt a deep connection and respect They felt a deep connection and respect to nature and the resources around to nature and the resources around them.them.

The IroquoisThe Iroquois The Iroquois were a The Iroquois were a

league of tribes in the league of tribes in the Eastern Woodlands.Eastern Woodlands.

The tribes sent 50 The tribes sent 50 representatives to a representatives to a Great Council to make Great Council to make decisions for the decisions for the league. The league. The representatives were representatives were men, but older women men, but older women of the tribes controlled of the tribes controlled who the representatives who the representatives were. were.

The IroquoisThe Iroquois

Iroquois lived in longhouses, which Iroquois lived in longhouses, which were long shelters made of wood were long shelters made of wood that were shared by many families.that were shared by many families.

Wampums were Wampums were made of polished made of polished seashells hung on seashells hung on strings or woven strings or woven into belts. They into belts. They were highly valued were highly valued by the Iroquois, by the Iroquois, and used as gifts or and used as gifts or invitations for invitations for special events.special events.

Eastern Woodlands Eastern Woodlands SummarySummary

They lived in wooded areas, and used They lived in wooded areas, and used the rich resources around them.the rich resources around them.

They gathered nuts, berries, and hunted They gathered nuts, berries, and hunted game in the woods for food. Some game in the woods for food. Some groups fished and raised corn, beans, groups fished and raised corn, beans, and squash.and squash.

Iroquois was the major group in this Iroquois was the major group in this region. They lived in longhouses. region. They lived in longhouses.

They traded Wampum beads.They traded Wampum beads.

SoutheastSoutheast This region stretches This region stretches

from West Virginia south from West Virginia south to Florida, and West to to Florida, and West to Eastern Texas. The land Eastern Texas. The land is covered by mountains, is covered by mountains, valleys, and swamps. valleys, and swamps. Southeastern tribes Southeastern tribes often held ceremonies to often held ceremonies to honor nature. For honor nature. For example, the Green example, the Green Corn Ceremony Corn Ceremony celebrated the first corn celebrated the first corn harvest of the season. harvest of the season.

SoutheastSoutheast Most people in the Most people in the

Southeast lived in Southeast lived in clans, in villages that clans, in villages that were led by a chief were led by a chief and a group of elders. and a group of elders. Their homes changed Their homes changed with the seasons, and with the seasons, and depended on the depended on the materials they got materials they got from the land. These from the land. These materials included materials included clay, grass, wood, and clay, grass, wood, and mud.mud.

SoutheastSoutheast Tribes in this region Tribes in this region

worked together to worked together to farm, hunt, and build farm, hunt, and build homes. Men hunted homes. Men hunted while women cooked while women cooked meals. Everyone meals. Everyone planted and harvested planted and harvested crops, including corn, crops, including corn, beans, and squash.beans, and squash.

The people traded to The people traded to get what they couldn’t get what they couldn’t make or find in nature. make or find in nature. They traded goods and They traded goods and ideas with other tribes.ideas with other tribes.

CherokeeCherokee The Cherokee are a The Cherokee are a

Southeastern tribe that lived Southeastern tribe that lived around the Smoky Mountains.around the Smoky Mountains.

They had a deep respect for They had a deep respect for nature, and believed that nature, and believed that people and animals are people and animals are related.related.

Cherokee women owned the Cherokee women owned the crops and houses, and passed crops and houses, and passed down their homes to their down their homes to their daughters when they died.daughters when they died.

Medicine men healed sick Medicine men healed sick people with herbs and people with herbs and conducted ceremonies to help conducted ceremonies to help keep people happy and keep people happy and healthy.healthy.

Southeast SummarySoutheast Summary Southeastern tribes Southeastern tribes

worked together to worked together to hunt and grow crops. hunt and grow crops. The traded for items The traded for items they needed.they needed.

They usually lived in They usually lived in groups called clans.groups called clans.

Their homes changed Their homes changed seasonally so that they seasonally so that they could stay cool in could stay cool in summer and warm in summer and warm in winter.winter.

They had a deep They had a deep respect for nature.respect for nature.

Great PlainsGreat Plains

These Native These Native Americans lived in Americans lived in the flat, grassy the flat, grassy central United central United States between the States between the Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi and the Mississippi River. They River. They depended on the depended on the buffalo for survival.buffalo for survival.

Life in the PlainsLife in the Plains

The Native Americans The Native Americans in this region hunted in this region hunted buffalo for food. They buffalo for food. They also used the buffalo also used the buffalo to make clothing, to make clothing, shelter, tools, shelter, tools, blankets, and other blankets, and other daily items.daily items.

They also grew crops They also grew crops including beans, corn, including beans, corn, squash, and squash, and pumpkins.pumpkins.

The Native Americans in the Great Plains region lived The Native Americans in the Great Plains region lived in lodges made of earth packed over a wood frame. in lodges made of earth packed over a wood frame. These were large, round huts built over a deep hole. These were large, round huts built over a deep hole.

While on the hunt for buffalo, people lived in tepees. While on the hunt for buffalo, people lived in tepees. These shelters were made of buffalo hides stretched These shelters were made of buffalo hides stretched across a circular pole frame. across a circular pole frame.

The CheyenneThe Cheyenne

The Cheyenne tamed The Cheyenne tamed wild horses and used wild horses and used them to help them hunt them to help them hunt buffalo more easily.buffalo more easily.

The horse also made it The horse also made it easier for the Cheyenne easier for the Cheyenne to move their camps.to move their camps.

Horses were so Horses were so important to the Plains important to the Plains people that they people that they measured wealth in measured wealth in horses. Some people horses. Some people even raided other tribes even raided other tribes to capture more horses.to capture more horses.

More About the Great Plains More About the Great Plains http://inkido.indiana.edu/w310work/romac/plains.htmlhttp://inkido.indiana.edu/w310work/romac/plains.html

Great Plains SummaryGreat Plains Summary

Plains Indians lived in the Central U.S.Plains Indians lived in the Central U.S. Many traveled around based on seasons Many traveled around based on seasons

(nomads)(nomads) Depended on the buffalo for food and daily Depended on the buffalo for food and daily

living itemsliving items Lived in tepees while on the huntLived in tepees while on the hunt Ate buffalo meat, corn, squash, and beansAte buffalo meat, corn, squash, and beans Wore buffalo skins and beadsWore buffalo skins and beads The Cheyenne used horses to hunt and The Cheyenne used horses to hunt and

traveltravel

Southwest DesertThese Native Americans lived in the dry, arid areas of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, northern Mexico, and southern Utah. Many different groups lived in this area. One of the most important and highly developed and civilized were the Pueblo.

Pueblo

The Pueblo were “village” people whose way of life was based on farming. They developed irrigation to grown corn, beans, squash, and cotton.The villages looked like apartment buildings and rose several stories off the ground

Hopi

The dry climate and farming way of life made rain an important need for the Hopi. These people believed that beings called kachinas could bring them rain and other kinds of help. So, they would hold ceremonies to honor the kachinas and ask for their aid. Kachina dolls were used to teach children about their beliefs.Hopi villages were on top of high mesas so that they could defend themselves against enemies.Hopi men governed their villages, but the women owned all the property.

More About the Southwest Desert http://inkido.indiana.edu/w310work/romac/swest.htm

Southwest Desert Summary

Lived in villages and desert lands Were farmers who used irrigation to grow crops including corn, beans, squash, and cotton Needed rain in their dry regionLived in adobe houses that were several stories high, or on mesas for protection

Northwest Coast RegionNorthwest Coast Region

• These Native These Native Americans lived along Americans lived along the Pacific Ocean from the Pacific Ocean from northern California to northern California to Alaska with the ocean Alaska with the ocean on one side and thick on one side and thick forest on the other.forest on the other.

• They had plentiful They had plentiful natural resources in natural resources in this region.this region.

Life in the Northwest CoastLife in the Northwest Coast• The forests in this region The forests in this region

provided plenty of wood as provided plenty of wood as well as animals to hunt.well as animals to hunt.

• The coastal waters and The coastal waters and rivers provided fish, rivers provided fish, whales, sea otters, and whales, sea otters, and seals that were used for seals that were used for food, clothing, and oil.food, clothing, and oil.

• Since the resources were Since the resources were so plentiful, the people did so plentiful, the people did not have to grow crops.not have to grow crops.

KwakiutlKwakiutl• The Kwakiutl and other The Kwakiutl and other

tribes could hold large tribes could hold large parties that lasted several parties that lasted several days called potlatches days called potlatches since they had so many since they had so many resources. At these resources. At these parties, the hosts parties, the hosts showered their guests with showered their guests with gifts including blankets gifts including blankets and copper shields. There and copper shields. There was also dancing, was also dancing, speeches, and plenty of speeches, and plenty of food. food.

KwakiutlKwakiutl• The Kwakiutl and other The Kwakiutl and other

tribes used totem poles to tribes used totem poles to show wealth. These were show wealth. These were posts carved with animals posts carved with animals or other figures or other figures representing a person’s representing a person’s ancestors. They were ancestors. They were sometimes very tall and sometimes very tall and were displayed outside of were displayed outside of their doors.their doors.

• Wood was also used to Wood was also used to carve dugout canoes for carve dugout canoes for fishing.fishing.

KwakiutlKwakiutl• A shaman was a man or A shaman was a man or

woman that people came woman that people came to when they weren’t to when they weren’t feeling well. The feeling well. The Kwakiutl believed that Kwakiutl believed that the shaman could cure the shaman could cure them. them.

• The Kwakiutl created The Kwakiutl created beautiful objects, often beautiful objects, often carved from wood.carved from wood.

• They lived in sturdy They lived in sturdy houses made of wood.houses made of wood.

More About the Northwest More About the Northwest Coast Coast http://inkido.indiana.edu/w310work/romac/nwindian.htmhttp://inkido.indiana.edu/w310work/romac/nwindian.htm

Northwest Coast SummaryNorthwest Coast Summary

• Lived in an area of plentiful resources, Lived in an area of plentiful resources, bordered by an ocean on one side and bordered by an ocean on one side and forest on the other.forest on the other.

• Hunted and fished for food which included Hunted and fished for food which included seafood, berries, and wild game.seafood, berries, and wild game.

• Held potlatch parties with food, dancing, Held potlatch parties with food, dancing, and gifts.and gifts.

• Carved items from wood, including Carved items from wood, including canoes, totem poles, and art.canoes, totem poles, and art.