Early Native American Cultures 1. Culture = Way of life 2. Parts of culture = Behavior, customs, ideas, skills, homes, clothes, government, protection, religion, sports, transportation, jobs, art, dance, money, language and food

3. Environment = Surroundings 4. Your environment limits and influences your culture. 5. Culture area = Region in which people share a similar way of life 6. Tribe = Group of villages or settlements that share common customs, languages and rituals

Mound Builders Lived 3000 years ago in Mississippi They built large mounds of earth for burial places and public buildings. Built the first cities in North America.

Anasazi Lived in Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. Cliff Dwellers: built homes in cliffs Skilled at making baskets, pottery, and jewelry 1300: Mysteriously abandoned their homes

Northwest Coast Used canoes to fish, hunted meat and used hides. Lived in villages, constructed wooden houses and traded with other tribes. Were great craftsmen-bark rope, blankets, jewelry, pottery and clothes.

Potlatch-show of wealth The name comes from a northwest Native American tradition whereby great honor and cultural status was given to those who gave the most away at large celebrations called potlatches.

Southwest-Desert religion tied to farming, later became hunters Farmers-grew corn, beans and squash, religion tied to farming, later became hunters Kivas (underground chambers for religion) Kachinas (masked dancers who represented spirits).

Matriarchy-female dominated Lived with wife’s family in Adobe houses: Homes made of clay brick. Hogans (mud over framework of poles)

Great Plains *Some farming of corn, beans, and squash *Hunted buffalo, elk and deer *Ruling council included great hunters, chiefs respected.

*They were nomadic people. *Lived in sod or matted grass houses, teepees.

Eastern Woodlands Hunters & farmers: planted corn, squash, pumpkins,

Lived in longhouses: Long, narrow single room buildings where an entire family would live. Women owned property in longhouse, Women farmed and selected chiefs, moved to wife’s longhouse

The earliest Native Americans in the New York state area (about 1000 years ago) were the Algonquins.

They were pushed out about 1300 by the Iroquois They were pushed out about 1300 by the Iroquois. This group was a powerful force when the Europeans arrived.

Climate – Dress accordingly, houses suited to it and what to eat. The early Native American cultures made use of and were influenced by things in their environment. Trees – Weapons, canoes, shelter, fences, totem poles, tools and fire wood. Animals – Food, clothing, shelter, weapons, utensils, traveled to follow them. Good soil – Farming Climate – Dress accordingly, houses suited to it and what to eat. River – Food, travel and canoes Plants – Food, face paints and medicines