AMERICAN INDIANS

S I OU X , N

A V A J O, A

N D HO P I

WARM UP 3/12

Write the word DIVERSITY in a vertical line on your warm up sheet.

Write a word or phrase relating to westward expansion for each letter. Be creative!

PLAINS INDIANS: CULTURESioux Indians, meaning “little

snakes”Many tribes within the Sioux,

including Lakota and OglalaNomadic lifestyle on the PlainsBuffalo

TREATY OF FORT LARAMIE, 1868Treaty signed between Plains Indians and

the US government guaranteeing Indians certain lands-The Lakota Sioux received ownership of the Black Hills and hunting rights nearby

The US also expressed its desire to “civilize” the Sioux and introduce them to American education and lifestyles

BATTLE OF LITTLE BIGHORN, 1876Also known as “Custer’s Last

Stand”Chief Sitting Bull led the Sioux

against General George A. Custer and his troops

Sioux kill Custer and all of his men when they tried to attack

MASSACRE AT WOUNDED KNEEDecember 29, 1890: US troops

surrounded a group of Lakota with the goal of forcibly removing them to Nebraska

Someone fired a shot, triggering chaos

By the time the fire ceased, more than 150 Sioux died, including men, women, and children. 25 American soldiers also died.

BLACK ELK SPEAKSTake a few minutes to read the

passage from Black Elk Speaks, a memoir written by a Lakota Sioux medicine man and interpreted by John Neihardt

Account of Wounded Knee

QUESTIONS WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED….1. Why does Black Elk believe the

massacre happened?2. Describe Black Elk’s religion.3. How could Black Elk be biased?

RESERVATIONSAs railroads expanded westward,

the companies systematically exterminated buffalo herds and therefore severely diminished the food supply for Plains Indians

Indians were forced onto reservations and into a farm-based lifestbecame dependent on payments from the government

DAWES ACT, 1887Written by Sen. Henry DawesIntended to “civilize” Native

AmericansDivided reservation land up among

individuals and families; extended US law to the Indians

Aims to make Indians full American citizens

ASSIMILATION POLICYAssimilate: Absorb and integrate (people, ideas

or culture) into a wider society or cultureGrowing public support to set cultural standards

for the country through educationNative American boarding schools

-result: Children feel torn between 2 cultures“Americanization” movementGoal: to move past Indian Wars and integrate

Indians into mainstream society. Americans believed they were doing a good thing!!!

CLOSERGive 3 examples of someone

assimilating to a new situation or culture

YÁ'ÁT'ÉÉH

AMERICAN INDIANS OF

THE SOUTH

WEST

N A V A J O A

N D HO P I

NAVAJO NATION: Diné Largest tribe in the USSettled in the Southwest circa 1400 BCE

NAVAJO LONG WALK1864: US government forces 9,000 Navajo

east from Arizona to Fort Sumner, New Mexico

They were interned at Bosque Redondo The US failed to provide enough food and

supplies for them and they were forced to farm rather than herd sheep; winters were tough

Conflict with neighboring tribes like the Apache

Taken from their native lands

KIT CARSON AND CANYON DE CHELLYKit Carson was a frontiersman famous for

fighting IndiansOrdered by a superior to force the Navajo

to surrender« Scorched Earth » policy in Canyon de

Chelly, sacred residence of many NavajoFacing starvation, many Navajo

surrendered to the government. Some escaped to the Grand Canyon

Outcome of the Long Walk1868: Realizing Bosque Redondo was a

disaster, the government allowed the Navajo to return to their ancestral lands and created a reservation (Treaty of Bosque Redondo

In return, the Navajo agreed to raiding restrictions and compulsory education for children

One of the few instances of the US government allowing Native Americans to live on their ancestral lands!

NAVAJO CODE TALKERSNBC Learn video honoring the Code

Talkers and explaining their importance in winning World War II

NAVAJO CULTURE AND RELIGIONBased largely on sheep and herdingImportance of the Number 4 (four sacred

mountains)Emphasis on prayer and being in communication

with spirits and natureMatrilineal societyIntroducing oneself and one’s four clansExamples: Towering House People, Corn People, Coyote Spring

People

Weaving

WHAT DO THESE STYLES OF DRESS SAY ABOUT THE NAVAJO RESERVATION TODAY?N A V A J O D R E S S F O R C E R E M O N I A L P U R P O S E S

R A V I S H E N R Y , P A R K R A N G E R

HOPI CULTURE AND RELIGIONReservation located within the Navajo

reservation a source of tensionBelieve in multiple spiritsLong, complicated ritualsDependent on corn (dry farming)Reciprocal culture

KIVAS

KACHINAS

CEREMONIAL DANCESBuffalo Dance: meant to bring rain and

snow. Held in late January

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW10cp223So

IMPACT OF ASSIMILATION POLICY ON THE HOPIHostility to « bahana », or outsidersHelen Sekaquaptewa, Me and Mine

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES FOR NATIVE AMERICANS• Read the assigned article• Discuss the following questions with

your group. Be prepared to share with the class. •Summarize the article. What is the main issue, who is involved, and what is the position that the native group is taking?•What does this article tell you about life on a reservation in the Southwest?

Tragedy on Pine RidgeNBC Learn video discussing alcoholism

among the Sioux in modern times

CLOSER 3/12

What 3 questions would you ask a member of either the Navajo or Hopi tribe today?