Native American Diversity

Lauren BanksEducation 357

November 30, 2009

Social Studies Standard 1: HISTORY

Standard 3.1.1 – Identify and describe Native American Woodland Indians who

lived in the region when European settlers arrived.

Taken from: http://dc.doe.in.gov/Standards/AcademicStandards/StandardSearch.aspx

Link to Activity: http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=324 &

http://www.indianastandardsresources.org/files/soc/ss_3_1_1.pdf

YOUR OPINION

Find a partner. Together make a list of all the things

that come to mind when you think of "Indians" or "Native Americans“.

What YOU Think

With your partner draw what you believe the local region

and its inhabitants would have looked like when European

settlers first arrived.

ABENAKI Native Group

The Abenaki, of the Algonquian group of Eastern Woodland Groups, lived in an area extending across northern New England into the southern part of the Canadian Maritimes. Their lifestyle was similar to that of other Eastern Woodland groups. Living in the northern range of the Algonquians, the Abenaki may have depended more on hunting and fishing than groups living in a more temperate climate. But they did grow corn, beans, squash and other crops.

HOPI Native Group

Hopi Indians are one of the Pueblo Indian tribes. According to the 1990 United States census, there are about 11,000 Hopi. About 7,000 live on the Hopi reservation in Arizona. They live in 11 villages on or near three high mesas (tablelands). One village, Oraibi, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited villages in the United States. It was founded about 800 years ago.

Like their early ancestors, many Hopi grow crops on plots of valley land. Some Hopi earn additional income by making and selling baskets, pottery, silver jewelry and kachina dolls. The carved wooden dolls represent messengers sent by the gods. Religious ceremonies play an important part in the life of the Hopi. At certain times of the year, Hopi men dress as kachinas and perform dances in the village square or in underground structures called kivas.

KWAKIUTL Native GroupMembers of the Kwakwaka'wakw, a group of loosely connected Native American tribes living along the northwestern coast of British Columbia just north of Washington State, were dubbed Kwakiutl by Europeans who first encountered them late in the 18th century.

The Kwakiutl crafted intricately decorated houses and canoes. Theirs was a highly organized society in which inheritance and personal property were important in determining status. The potlach ceremony, in which gifts were exchanged and property was sometimes burned or thrown into the sea, was an important public demonstration of wealth and status. Status was signified by totem poles placed in front of the home.

Traditionally, Kwakiutl men fished and hunted, while the woman gathered. After encountering Europeans, Kwakiutl became fur traders, commercial fishermen and cannery workers. Though they adapted well to these economic changes, the Kwakiutl were greatly affected by European diseases.

GROUP WORK

The class will be divided into 6 different groups

Two groups will research the ABENAKI Native group

Two groups will research the HOPI Native Group

Two groups will research the KWAKIUTL Native Group

Internet and library time must be given to complete project.

GROUP WORK Each group must begin by reading their assigned

Native American document (Links to documents on activity website).

Research assigned native group on the Internet. List group observations about document and

research. Include observations about- Climate- Plant Life- Animal Life- Relationships within the native group- What the native group considered important - Where native group lived

GROUP WORK

Find a creative way to present your group findings to your classmates. Make sure your presentations cover the observations on the previous slide.

Class Discussion

What are some of the differences in the three groups discussed? What factors lead to these differences? Do you believe location is a factor? What other observations did you make?