Native Americans in the Chicago Area

Answers to guided reading questions

#1. Native American groups in the area Sauk Fox Potawatomi Illinois

Patterns in how they got their names All related to nature, earth, mankind,

animals

World Heritage Site, and why that is significant Cahokia mounds Shows importance of Native American

civilization (similar to Great Wall of China, pyramids) which so many whites coming to the area ignored

#2. Why Sauk and Fox moved west Pushed west by Iroquois who were

pushed west by white settlers

How Potawatomi angered Iroquois They gave the Iroquois poisoned food

when the Iroquois were starving

#3. Why Sauk and Fox had two villages They were hunters/gatherers, but also

farmers-different villages for different times of the year

How animals were used to the fullest Used for food, clothing, tools--all parts of

animal were used, including the brain (softened clothing)

How chiefs were organized War and peace chiefs

The extent of their power Limited--could not force people to follow

their ideas, just made suggestions

#4. Describe clans and how created Family groups named after an animal Children given names stored by clan Sacred objects/celebrations

Why people were also grouped by color Promoted unity within the tribe--people

were related to each other by clan name and by color (black/white)….this was not a skin color, just an arbitrary designation

#5. Traditions associated with first menstruation Girls went to a special lodge Stayed there for 10 days Female relatives visited with clothing

and advice

What older women said girls should do Be pleasant and respectful to everyone

What older women said girls should NOT do Don’t touch your hair during

menstruation or it will all out No sweet or sour food during

menstruation or your teeth will fall out

#6. Early stages of courtship Man asked woman’s mother for

permission Came to woman’s lodge with a piece of

burning bark

How a woman indicated acceptance/disapproval Blow flame out if accepting proposal; do

not blow it out if not accepting

What a man could do about it Play love songs on a flute all day Then return again with the piece of

burning bark If still no, then NO

#7. Typical age at marriage 20

Policies about divorce People could agree to separate and find

new mates

Taboos for pregnant women Could not touch a dead body If she looked at a corpse sideways, her

baby would be cross-eyed Could only carry wood on back and not

in arms, or birth would be difficult No sexual relations during pregnancy or

the baby would be sickly

Traditions associated with birth Private lodge where woman stayed for

ten days to a month Special celebration when she returned

#8. Death and burial traditions Public announcement People outside the clan prepared body

for burial while clan grieved Feet facing west, tobacco on body Sometimes buried in a log, on a

scaffold, or on top of a dead enemy

Beliefs about what happened to the spirit Followed White River (Milky Way) Pass a guardian spirit and his dog to get

to the land of the dead

Traditions associated with mourning Wear shabby clothing Messy hair No work duties

What happened after mourning period, and why Clan adopted someone symbolically to

make up for the loss