chapter 4 native americans€¦ · before 18th century there were no horses in the pnw plateau...
TRANSCRIPT
PNWChapter 4
Native Americans
Original Inhabitants
Native Americans were first
Originally came from Central Asia
8 Migrational Hypotheses
• Ice Bridge
• Land Bridge
• Continental Shelf
• Kon Tiki
• Ra II
• Continental Drift
• Atlantis
• Mu
Ice BridgeLand BridgeContinental Shelf
Hypotheses suggest that the Native American simply walked across the Bring Strait
Continental Shelf
Ra Expedition
Kon Tiki
Atlantis
Mu
Reasons for migration
Search for food
Milder climate
Better and safer environment
Adventure
Driven out by superior or stronger cultures
Earliest Inhabitants
Coastal Indians moved southward from Alaska’s panhandle
Plateau Indians moved southward from interior of Canada
Pacific Northwest Indians
Indians living west of Cascades became known as Coastal
Indians living east of Cascades became known as Plateau
Contrasting Cultures
Physical Appearance
Reddish-brown skin color
Straight black hair
Dark brown or black eye color
Broad forehead
High prominent cheekbones
Little facial and body hair
Coastal
Oval shaped face
Generally shorter in stature with stocky body build
Plateau
Thinner and more angular shaped face
Tall, lean muscular body build
Location
Coastal
Coastal area’s moderate and
favorable natural environment
allowed them to live in one area
comfortably
Few reasons to venture from village
Originally lived on saltwater
shorelines, lake shores or river
banks
Irregularities of area and dense
forest caused them to live in isolated
villages
Communication between tribes was
infrequent
Location
Plateau
Harsher environment
Tribes were nomadic
oConstantly seeking food, fresh water, shelter and safety
oOrganized into fewer but larger tribal groups
oBecause of being nomadic sometime one tribe would move into
another tribe’s territory
oCompetition for best grazing, hunting and fishing grounds were
fierce
Tribal Units
Each tribe developed their own characteristics that were similar yet
different from neighboring tribes
Tribal Structure
Tribes
Usually represented several families
Clans, bands, councils, villages, lodges
Each tribe had a chief
Next important leader was the shaman- medicine
man or spiritual leader
Coastal
Well defined class system
oRank based on social class at birth
oMaterial wealth of the individual
oWealthiest member of tribe was
usually chosen as chief
oLowest rank were slaves
Women or children captured from
intertribal warfare or warfare
with whites
Adult males usually killed
Chiefs and shamans maintained
positions as long as they had material
wealth, spiritual powers, and mutual
respect
Plateau
Similar to coastal
oImportant differences
Courage, valor, and bravery were respected by peers
Those with wisdom and good decision making skills were highly
honored
Most respected individuals became tribal leaders and chiefs
Plateau Indians continued
oFunctions of chief
Keep peace among members
Settle personal quarrels
Decide guilt or innocence of the accused
Receive guest
Secure adequate food
Provide security for the tribe
In war time-military leader
Other times of crisis- spiritual leader
Larger tribes had several leaders with designated responsibilities
Plateau Indians continued
Communal social system
oDid not value material goods or slaves like coastal
oSought basic necessities of life through communal effort
oSurvival was first priority
Communication
Any form of personal and/or group communication
was difficult
No uniform or common oral language
Many forms of communication within tribe
Storytelling
Songs
Chants
Dances
Totem poles
Pattern designs on blankets
Drawings on rocks, walls of caves or animal
skins
Smoke signals
Sign language
160 different
languages
Communication
further complicated
when new nonnative
Americans arrived
Tribes developed
sign language and
Chinook jargon
Chinook jargon- a
mixture of
Chinook, English,
and French words
Clothing
Both groups skilled in using available raw materials to make functional
and attractive garments
Coastal Indians
Summer time- mild climate
oMale
breech cloths and went barefoot
Sometimes leggings and moccasins
oFemales
Skirts and dresses made of dog hair, grass, cattails, shredded
cedar bark, or animal skins
Winter time- cool, rainy climate
oMore protective garments
oRarely used animal skins- not practical in wet climate
oCapes, ponchos, robes, blankets
ogarments from grasses, cedar bark, and dog hair
oconical shaped or basket shaped hats
Plateau Indians
Decorative clothing made from animal skins, fur pelts, dog hair, and
grass
Clothing reflected materials available in their environment
Clothing was practical
Wore accessories
oHorns, small furs, headdresses
oFeathers, bear claws, necklaces
oEarrings, nose rings, bones
oscalps
ocolorful stones, shells, and beads
ohair ornaments made from wood, bone, shells, copper, and other
metals
Summer time- dry and hot
oClothes made form very light materials
Males
Breech cloths
Leather moccasins
Leather leggings
Females
Decorative dresses
oAnimal skins
oWoven grasses
oDog hair
oMoccasins
Winter time-
oHeavy winter garments made from animal skins and pelts
oWoven blankets
Both
Designed colorful blankets
Beautiful ceremonial clothing
oCoastal- uniquely designed ceremonial masks
oPlateau- feathered headdresses, colorful adornments
Diet
Coastal
Excellent fishers, hunters, food gatherers
Sufficient food supply allowed them to live in permanent villages close
to water
Hunting and Gathering
Plateau
oFood and water scarce and difficult to find
oCompete with other tribes for resources
oInsufficient food supply caused them to be nomadic by necessity, not
by choice
oHunted game in the Plateau area crossed the Rockies for buffalo
oGathered nuts, berries, bulbs
oPemmican- boiled animal fat, berries, camas root, and fish
oFished for Salmon
Whaling
oMost exciting and dangerous activity associated with food gathering
oA few coastal tribe were the primary whale hunters
oAlmost every potion of the whale was used
oPrized portions given to the harpooners and those of tribal status
o Shelter
Coastal
Long House- large permanent cedar log and/or plank house
A- frame houses
Shed-like structures
Plateau
Tepees or tipis
Caves or pit houses during the cold winter months
o Transportation
Primary- walking or dugout canoe
Canoe
Coastal Indians were excellent canoe builders
Horse
Before 18th century there were no horses in the PNW
Plateau Indians walked or ran
After horses were brought here by the Spanish, the
horse became the most prized possession.
Number of horses owned became a measure of wealth
Appaloosa breed developed by Nez Perce tribe is one
of the most popular breeds.
Travois
oHorses or dogs were used to pull
o Consisted of 2 long poles of unequal length with leather or woven mat
between the poles
oUnequal length to help reduce bounce and maintain balance
Economics Activities
Both groups loved to negotiate and barter
Made canoes, totem poles, ceremonial masks, tools, household furnishings.
Weapons, clothing, shelters
Both adapted themselves successfully to the environment
Men
oHunter, fisher, warrior
Women
o Raised children, gathered berries, nuts, and roots
o Prepared meals
oMade clothing and utensils
oOther daily tasks the men would not do
Plateau Indians
o Skilled in animal husbandry and horsemanship
Tools and Implements
Primitive
Coastal Indians did not use metal tools until arrival of Europeans
Recreation
Variety of recreational and athletic activities
Opportunities to express bravery and athletic skills
o Canoe racing, footraces, tug-of-war, wrestling, bow- and – arrow contests,
spear throwing, horsemanship,
oGambling was a favorite activity
Ceremonies
Each tribe had different ceremonies for
events
Religion
Primarily based upon an individual’s
personal beliefs and spiritual experience
Basic religion was animism
oDirect relationship between the individual
and his or her spirit
oGood and bad spirits possessed objects
o Each person had a spiritual experience that
had a lasting affect on life
The Shaman
The most powerful person spiritually within the tribe
Responsible for the secrecy of tribal customs and use of herbs to heal
If person got ill and died the life of the shaman was taken
He was the spiritual leader of the tribe
Burial Rites
Death was frequent
Influx of new people brought diseases were the Indians had no immunities
Tribal member was honored with a burial ceremony
The Potlatch
Unique ceremony practiced by the
Coastal Indians
Chinook jargon meaning “to give”
Common when tribe or chief
hosted a tremendous party
Showered guests with gifts
Object was to show generosity
toward guests as well as exhibit the
wealth of host
Host tried to give away more than
the previous host at the last
potlatch
Social Organization
Family composed of parents,
children and other relatives
Male was dominant, female
subservient
Youth respected their elders
o Praised for good behavior
o Ridiculed for bad behavior
o Parents sometime threatened
children with bad spirits
Coastal parents controlled
development of children
Plateau parents allowed children
more independence
Pow Wow
Used to preserve and transmit traditions
Word comes from Algonquin to describe an important meeting between tribal
chiefs and elders
Gathering often involves singing and dancing
Hundreds of pow wows in PNW, each one different
Plateau Indians
o Elaborate regalia
oDrummers and singers gather around a
massive leather drum
oDancers perform dances unique to each tribe
Coastal Indians
o Celebrate unique traditions
o Simple dress
o Singers carry their own drum
o dances reflect the story sung by the
drummers
o all dancers do the same motions in unison
vendors sell traditional clothing
cooks prepare Indian food
Pow Wows serve as a window into a long ago
past and ancient culture