Maidu Indians PowerPoint Presentation By Mia J. Lang

Clothing Men wore a simple piece of deer skin around their hips in the summer, but other than that they didn’t wear much. The Maidu women wore a double apron on the front and back. The winter time Maidu tribe wore moccasins on their feet. Moccasins are made from deerskin, with a seam sewn up the front. They were stuffed with grass for more warmth. The Maidu wore their hair long and lose, and men sometimes wore a hair net decorated with feathers. Tattooing was popular many women Maidu did it. It was done by piercing the skin with a pine needle or a fish bone and rubbing in a dye or charcoal on it.

Food They lived in the mountains and were good hunters. The Maidu had hunting dogs and used many plants. Meat was roasted over an open fire or it was baked. Stronger animals like deer, and elk were followed for days to be easier to catch. Smaller animals were speared or caught in nets. Many insects were eaten. The Maidu ate most parts of plants like roots, leaves stems, or seeds. Several kinds trees like oak, and huckleberry used for acorns. The Maidu caught fish in nets or they speared.

House/Location There houses were partly underground in the winter. Some families shared houses. They built these houses in the spring, because the ground was soft. The houses were round and about 20 to 40 feet. They made temporary houses for hunting or gathering food in the summer. They had no walls and had flat roofs with poles holding up the house. The Maidu lived in northeastern California in Plumas county and southern Lassen county.

Tools/Trade They burned the middle of a log to make it a canoe. The Maidu used clamshells and disks for money. Lots of tools like nets, bows, knives ,arrows, and spears were used for hunting. They traded lots of tools, and shells with there neighbors.

Fun Facts They had lots of dances for ceremonies or just for fun. They used many flutes and whistles for music for the dancing.