Eastern Woodlands By: Shelby Helton

REGION The Eastern Woodlands run from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley, and stretches from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean. The characteristics of this region include large hills, mountains, valleys, lakes, forests, and seacoasts. The rich forests have birch, oak, and maple trees. The Eastern Woodlands have 4 seasons including cold winters and hot summers. It has lots of rain, which keeps rivers running, and forests growing.

Tribe The tribes in the Eastern woodlands either spoke Algonquian or Iroquois. The Mohegan and the Delaware were two tribes of the Algonquian. There are at least 3 artifacts that the Algonquian used, a birch bark wigwam, a turkey feather cape, and a birch bark canoe. The wigwam was built into a dome shape, and was covered in birch bark. Men sewed together overlapping turkey feathers to make a cape. And to make canoes they constructed a cedar frame, and covered it in bark. The canoes were so light that they could be carried from stream to stream. The wigwams were used as homes and shelter, the capes were sewed for ceremonies, and the canoes were used to go out on the water and catch fish.

Survival They ate a variety of animals including, squirrels, deer, bears, moose, beavers, and raccoons as well as fish and other types of seafood along the coast. The Algonquian tribe were both hunters and farmers. They hunted the animals, and their crops included beans, corn, pumpkins, squash, and tobacco. This region had 4 distinct seasons which meant that the animals and crops they used depended on the season.

Clothing The Algonquian wore animal skins. They generally wore buckskin which is deer skin without hair or fur. Men wore loincloths, shirts, leggings and moccasins. Women wore skirts or grass leggings with moccasins. The change in weather and seasons didn’t effect what type of clothing they wore.

Homes The Algonquian tribe lived in birch bark wigwams. They used small trees which they bended into a dome shape and covered them in birch bark mats. The type of home they had depended on whether it was permanent or temporary.

Fun Facts The Algonquian tribe was believed to create the dreamcatcher. It was created because they believed it would protect a person from evil spirits in their dreams. They believed their were not only souls in humans but also in plants, trees and rocks.

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