Native Americans

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Make a list of everything you know about Native Americans. Culture Beliefs Relationships Living situations Morals and values Technology Stereotypes

Native Americans

Pocahontas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q1QF8G47oU

Trailer for 1995 Disney movie:

Pocahontas

http://www.powhatan.org/pocc.html

North America

Civilizations before Columbus 10 million people 350 languages Many different societies, religions,

governments, etc.Cahokia

City in 1100 CE (400 years before Columbus) Population of 20,000 (same as London)

Didn’t understand European concept of owning land

Recreation of Cahokia (600-1400 CE)

Influences on U.S.

Universal suffrage for both sexesFederalismLeaders as “servants of the people” instead

of masters Insistence that the community must respect

the diversity of men (“All men are created equal.”)

Iroquois Constitution model for Articles of Confederation

Today562 federally recognized tribes4,500,000 U.S. citizens identify as Native

American93% of students attend regular public schools; 7%

attend Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) schoolsMake up 1% of total U.S. population, but 50% of

the nations languages and cultures Many of these exist nowhere else on the planet

Graduation rate for American Indian high school students was 49.3% during 2003-2004 school year

What is a myth?

A traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events

Myths

Origin myths – explanation for how earth was created, how life began

Most Native American myths include animals Iroquois creation myth

World created on the back of a sea turtleLiterature reflects the culture that produces it

Pay attention to details to get cultural insight

Myths

Passed down orally through families, during ceremonies Unknown origin Only written down recently

Important part of spiritual beliefsTotems

In many tribes, each group, clan, or family would be said to descend from an animal or natural object.

Responsible for maintaining that animal’s myth Characteristics of animals often attributed to

people

Myths

Types: Creation myth Origin myth Heroic journey myth Trickster myth

Trickster myths Important part of Native American mythology

Animal with two sides to personality Create trouble and chaos, reveal wisdom Coyote or raven

Characteristics Magic Trickery Violence/sexuality

Purpose To explain the origins of some aspect of the

natural world and/or teach a lesson