Native Americans
Daily Life in Olden Times
| Stories & Myths |
| Iroquois | Anasazi | Pacific Coastal |
| Ojibwa/Chippewa | Pueblo | Inuit |
| Cherokee | Hopi | Far North |
| Seminole | Apache | Incas |
| Plains People | Navajo | Mayas |
| Sioux | California | Aztecs |
| Homes | Baskets | Canoes | Games | Lessons | Regions | Links | Credits |
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Imagine 40,000
years ago ..
Imagine 40,000 years ago ... the last great ice sheet still covers much of the north. You are a hunter with your family, tracking animals for food and for hides to make warm clothing. You carry a stone-tipped spear. On foot, you follow wild herds through the cold and fog. You cross a bridge of ice. On the other side, you find a new land. You do not know that it is a new land. You only know that there are no human enemies to stop you.
You keep pushing south, following the herds. You find paradise - elk, deer, bison, wild vegetables, wild fruits. And forests, so many trees - and squirrels and rabbits. Fish leap from the streams. Other people find their way across the frozen land.
Years pass. The ice begins to melts. Now there is a strip of water separating ancient Asia from ancient America. Still, people find their way across the Bering Strait in boats of bark and hide.
Early immigrants
For many hundreds of years, people wandered into the great northwest. From there, they moved in all directions, across Canada and the United States. These early people were not only skilled farmers, they were also clever builders, engineers, and weavers. They made artistic pottery without a pottery wheel. They loved games of skill. They created stories and poetry. They spoke many different languages. They had many different customs. They all once lived in a different place.
Native Americans are not actually natives. They are immigrants, just like everyone else in this country. Some scientists say the first people arrived in the United States over forty thousand years ago from Asia, crossing the frozen sea. Some say twenty thousand years ago. It's safe to say that Native American culture is really old, as old as that of Ancient China and Ancient Mongolia.
How do we know about these early people?
Typically, when we look at an ancient culture, we start by looking at the artifacts they left behind. But in this case, not much is left. The early people of the Americas believed in using things they found in nature. They did their best to disturb nature as little as possible. Thus, there is not much to find from ancient times. Scientists have found pictographs, which tell us some things, but not nearly enough.
Normally, we look at oral histories and ancient proverbs, both of which can tell us a great deal about the daily life and beliefs of a people. But things are not that easy when exploring ancient American cultures. Many oral histories were lost when European explorers and settlers came to the Americas. They brought disease. People became ill with smallpox and other diseases. Many died. Much was lost. As for proverbs ....
Proverbs
The soul would have no rainbow if the eye had no tears
"Years ago I read someplace that the absence of proverbs is some kind of distinguishing feature for all of the cultures of the Americas. At first it surprised me, but the more I have been thinking about it and asking around, the more it seems to be true. In the cultures I am mostly familiar with (subarctic Algonquians) there are no proverbs of any significance and I could philosophize on their absence, but I will not do. I am curious to hear about the results of this query." Peter Bakker (alf.let.uva.nl)
After checking with several of our old professors, and some new ones, we have come to believe that the proverb, like the horse, is not native to the Americas. It arrived with early European explorers.
There are many proverbs on the web that are attributed to Native Americans. As you find them, keep in mind that these are, for the most part, ancient European, Asian, or African proverbs reworded so they appear to fit the culture of the Americas. But to insert words like "moccasins" or "sweet grass" in a proverb does not make that proverb reflect the beliefs of a people.
Native Americans used games, myths, dance, and impersonation to teach their children about their beliefs and culture. That is a very fun way to learn!
Today ...
Today, there are over 500 federally recognized tribes in the United States alone. Reservations are ruled by representative tribal governments. Native Americans today have a variety of jobs, including doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, ministers, writers, artists, and workers of all sorts. But they also hold jobs like tribal leaders.
Neat frame houses have replaced former wigwams and tepees. Kids go to public school. Some kids additionally attend tribal school, especially tribal pre-school, where they learn about their traditions. Much has been lost, but much has been saved through the hard work of today's tribal leaders.
It's been an interesting study for us, one we intend to continue. The more we learn, the more we want to learn about the fascinating culture of these clever, creative, generous people.
In Olden Times
Come meet the early people of the Americas in olden times. Learn what people invented to make themselves happy and comfortable. Read fabulous myths! Play really old games. Meet mischievous magical beings. Explore the daily life of those who lived in the Americas a long time ago - some of them right here, in your backyard.
What was the job of the False Face Society? Who were the Three Sisters? What were the Snow Snake Games? Who was Hiawatha? What was the League of Nations? What was wampum? Find out here. Welcome to the Iroquois Nation in Olden Times.
Why did the Ojibwa hide pebbles in moccasins? What is a Charcoal Sad Face? How do you play Butterfly Hide and Seek? What is a Dream Catcher? Welcome to the Ojibwa/Chippewa Indians in Olden Times.
Why did the Cherokee Indians have a red chief and a white chief? What is a Booger Ceremony? What techniques were invented by the Cherokee that made them successful in battle? Where is the Darkening Land? What is the Trail of Tears? Find out here.
What is the job of an animal spirit helper? Why did the Seminole people hang baby cradles from the rafters of their homes? What is a comfortable? Why were beads so important? Find out here. Welcome to the Florida Everglade Seminole Indians in Olden Times.
Why did the Plains people prefer tipis to houses? Name 72 things the Plains people made from buffalo. Why were horses called dogs? What were pictographs? Can you decode an ancient message? Why do the elders still speak of Clever Coyote with gratitude? Welcome to the Plains People in Olden Times.
What could boys do when they reached their 10th birthday? What engagement present did the family of the bride receive? Why weren't kids given names when they were born? What did star quilts represent? What was the Seven Council Fires? Find out here. Welcome to The Sioux Nation in Olden Times.
Why did the Pueblo dig a hole in the middle of a secret underground room? Who were the giant Natackas? What are kachinas? How did the Pueblo get their name? Who were the Old Ones? What happened at a naming ceremony? Welcome to the Southwest Pueblo Nation in Olden Times.
Why do Apache kids hunt for blue stones? What is a Wickiup? Who were the Devil Dancers? Learn how to play Apache toe and toss games. Read an Apache myth about Child of Water and Little Blue Rock. Welcome to the Southwest Apache Indians in Olden Times.
When a young couple ate from the same basket, why did all their relatives lecture them? What is a Ketoh? Why did the Navajo make Sand Paintings and then destroy them before dark? What is a Blessingways? Welcome to the Southwest Navajo Indians in Olden Times.
What made the Puget Sound Indian tribes "rich" in ancient times? Why were woven mats so important? How did totem poles get started? What could you buy with 5,000 blankets? What's a potlatch all about? Find out here. Welcome to the Northwest Pacific Coastal Indians in Olden Times.
Why was the bear doctor feared? What was the purpose of the Big Head Dance? Why did certain medicine men hunt rattlesnakes? Why did the Chumash need a ladder to get into bed? Come meet the people who lived in California in Olden Times.
What trick did the Kutchin people use on their enemies? How did these early people stop ghosts from entering their homes? What magical powers did the Inuit think their shamas had? What is the purpose of a finger mask? Welcome to Alaska Natives and the people of the Arctic and Far North in Olden Times.
The Incas never invented the wheel. They never invented a system of writing. They had no use for money. Yet, high in the rugged Andes Mountains of South America, the Incas built thousands of miles of well-paved roads, kept accurate records, and enjoyed vast wealth. Everyone in the empire was well fed and no one was homeless. Meet the Children of the Sun.
One day, the Mayas appeared. 1500 years later, they disappeared. No one knows where they came from and no one knows where they went! During their stay, they build pyramids, temples, stelas, and ball courts. Explore Daily Life in the Maya Empire, read the adventures of The Hero Twins, and play a Game of Bul. Meet the People of the Corn.
Why did the Aztecs search for 200 years to find the Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus? What did conquered people have to pay in tribute? Why did the Aztecs build floating gardens? Read the story Journey of a Princess to discover how the Aztecs treated some very honored guests. Welcome to ancient Mexico.
Child of Water and Little Blue Rock (Apache)
How Raven Stole Crow's Potlatch (Pacific Northwest)
The Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus (Aztec)
Games - Things to Make and Do (activities)
Animal Spirit Helpers (lesson)
Horse: Influence on the Plains People (lesson)
Comparison Chart - Indian Way of Life vs European Way of Life
Credits
Books we used:
American's Fascinating Indian Heritage, Reader's Digest, 1978
Indians of Yesterday by Marion E. Gridley, sponsored by the Indian Council Fire, 1940
Indians of the Americans, National Geographic Society, 1958
Indian Reservations, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Dept of the Interior, 1950
Questions on Indian Culture, by Dr. Ruth Underhill, University of Denver, Bureau of Indian Affairs, pamphlet, 1953
Dakota and Ojibwe People, Minnesota Historical Society, 1985
Regions Far and Near for a Changing World, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, 1995
Seminole Music by Frances Densmore - a great source of information on customs of the Seminole People. This book is online.
Our special thanks
to:
Washington State History Museum, Tacoma, WA, for our private tour, and an opportunity to learn a great deal about the early Americas. Thank you!
Dr. Adams. Over the years, Dr. Adams has been a consultant to the Sioux, Winnebago, Fox, and other tribes in the Midwest on community development. He also participated in a federal project for communication and values differences among cultures, resulting in a website, a multicultural toolkit.
Our special thanks to the many Native American people who do not wish their names to be listed. Information was shared generously with us. We are most grateful for it.
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Counter start date January 2006
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