1. History of People & the 1st Americans
Oldest human relative found: “Ardi” 4.4 million yrs ago in Ethiopia.

2. People began to migrate…
Reasons for migration:
Search for food, shelter, and water
Avoid conflicts with neighboring tribes
Curiosity

4. The 1st Americans! Where: Across the Bering Straight
How: Walked- People were nomads and relied on hunting and gathering.
Why: Probably following the food source
When: Archaeologists believe during the last ice age: 12,000 yrs ago or 10,000 B.C.E.

5. The Bering Straight- as sea levels dropped…land appeared

6. The Bering Straight Today…

7. The 1st Americans or Native Americans
The 1st people into North and South America are Native Americans
Native = Original inhabitant
American = Person of North or South America
“Indians” is NOT correct! The only Indians on this planet are people from the country, India.
We often call NA (Native Americans) “Indians” b/c Christopher Columbus made a mistake!

8. Remember the difference!
Indians
Native Americans

9. How do we know about Native Americans?
*The 1st Americans lived during pre-history (before written records), so they didn’t leave us any written records like books or articles. *We do use things like, artifacts, fossils, and hieroglyphics.

10. Native American Hieroglyphics

11. NA Culture Areas of North America

12. Major NA Tribes of North Carolina
Lumbee - many were part of the famous/infamous “Lowery Gang”- retaliated against racist hate groups and oppressive (to hold one down; not give full freedoms, etc) government.
Cherokee
Tuscarora
Catawba
Hatteras
Cape Fear
Waxhaw

13. Town Creek NA Mound North Carolina

14. NA Life-Styles Nomadic/ Hunted and Gathered Fished and whaled
Slash and Burn farming (once learned)- slash and burn down forests. Provides 2 things:
1. Clear area for a small village
2. Excellent soil for farming
PROBLEM: Not sustainable- could only do it once, then they had to move on.

15. No paper money, so they
used a barter system (trading)

16. NA Housing
Tepees: tent-like homes made from wood and animal hides (often buffalo).
* Tepees were common w/ the PLAINS (central part) NA.

17. 2. Wigwams Wigwam means house in the Abenaki tribe
2. Wigwams Wigwam means house in the Abenaki tribe. They are small houses.

18. 3.) Longhouses – were used by the Iroquois tribes (EASTERN WOODLAND PEOPLE). As many as 60 people could live in one.

19. 4. Igloos: used by the Inuit tribes (PACIFIC NORTHWEST) or “real people.” We often call them Eskimos. The word Eskimo translates to “eater of raw meat.”

20. 5. ) Pueblos: “small towns” in Spanish
5.) Pueblos: “small towns” in Spanish. Made out of sundried mud bricks called “adobe.” People of the SOUTHWEST were famous for these.

21. A more modern pueblo:

22. NA Families & Political Structure:
Clan- Members of the same family
Tribe- Many clans joining together
Chief- Head of the tribe
How did Native Americans get along
w/out court systems, police, jails, etc?
Do we, in 2010, rely on our community & family as much as NAs did?

23. NA Clothing & Survival Tools:
*Remember… everything the NA made came from the land. NOTHING was wasted!
Moccasins- made from tanned hides of deer, moose, elk, or buffalo.

24. Clothing- made from animal skins

25. Canoes
Kayaks

26. Weapons – Were made out of WOOD and STONE
Weapons – Were made out of WOOD and STONE. Knowledge of how to work w/ metal came much later!
a. Spears & Arrowheads

27. B. Bows and Arrows

28. C. Tomahawks

29. Snowshoes

30. Headresses: worn for various reasons: 1. ) show one’s prestige, 2
Headresses: worn for various reasons: 1.) show one’s prestige, 2.) ceremonies, 3.) during battle, etc.

31. Totem Poles – thought to tell stories, celebrate important events, show change in leadership, etc.

32. Toboggan- Basically a sled that was used to carry game across snow or rough terrain.
The Inuit (Eskimos) would often use sled dogs to pull them, the sleds, game, and supplies!

33. *Native Americans lived on North & South America for THOUSANDS of years before the “white man” ever stepped foot on to their soil.
That all changed in 1492…