Native Americans
By Kim O’Hehir
• Introduction
• Native American Clothing
• True Or False
• Native American History
• Native American Food
• Native American Myths And
Legends
• Native Americans Today
I really enjoyed doing my project on
Native Americans and hope you will
learn as much as I did from it!
Originally, there were many
different traditional clothing
styles in North America. Nearly
every Native American tribe had
its own distinctive style of dress,
and the people could often tell
each other's tribal identities by
looking at their clothes and
headdresses.
Men and Women clothing
Men
• In most tribes, Native
American men wore
breechcloths sometimes
with leather leggings
attached in colder climates.
In other tribes Indian men
wore a kilt or fur trousers
instead of a breechcloth.
Plains Indian warriors wore
special buckskin war shirts
decorated with ermine tail
Woman
• Most Native American
women wore skirts and
leggings. In some Indian
cultures women's shirts
were optional and were
usually treated more like
coats, while in others,
women always wore tunics
in public. And in other tribes
women usually wore
dresses.
Breechcloth
War shirt
Dress
Tunic
1. Indians are not full citizens of the United States. (TRUE) or (FALSE)
2. Because of poor educational opportunities, Indians have made no
important achievements. (TRUE) or (FALSE)
4. Indian people have been around approximately 20,000 years. (TRUE)
or (FALSE)
5. Indians were excellent horsemen even before the coming of the
white man. (TRUE) or (FALSE)
1. Indians are not full citizens of the United States. (TRUE) or
(FALSE)
True
2. Because of poor educational opportunities, Indians have
made no important achievements. (TRUE) or (FALSE)
False
4. Indian people have been around approximately 20,000
years. (TRUE) or (FALSE)
True
5. Indians were excellent horsemen even before the coming
of the white man. (TRUE) or (FALSE)
True
Native American History
The History of Native Americans is both fascinating
and tragic. They had lived in the land many, many
years before white man set foot on their soil. It is
believed that during the ice age, they traveled into
what is now Alaska. The name “Indian” was given
them by Christopher Columbus who mistakenly
believed he had landed in the Indies.
They have been labeled Indians, American Indians,
and the now preferred Native Americans. They
believed in respecting the land. They became
proficient fishermen, hunters, farmed crops such as
corn, and built homes with whatever available
resources their territory provided. Some of these
included animal skins, sun-dried brick.
There is a number of Native
American tribes all over
America.
There were not many domesticated animals in North America before
Europeans arrived-- only turkeys, ducks, and dogs, and most tribes did not
eat dog meat (although some did.) In South America, llamas and guinea
pigs were also raised by some tribes for their meat.
Some Native Americans were primarily big animal hunters. In tribes like
these, large groups of Native Americans usually worked together to drive
large animals into an ambush, a man-made pit, or over a cliff, sometimes
setting controlled fires or building fences to cut off their escape.
In fishing tribes, Native American fishermen would either catch fish and
hunt from their canoes, or else set fish nets and wooden traps for them.
Native hunting and fishing weapons varied from tribe to tribe but the
most common ones were bows and arrows, spears, harpoons, fish-hooks,
and blowguns.
There are hundreds of old
Native American myths and
legends told as a lesson or
some just for entertainment.
Here is one as an example....
Wise Owl
Native American Story
Loosely based on an Iroquois Myth
There is an old saying,
"wise as an owl". People
are always saying that, but
the truth is, owls were not
always wise.
Retold by Lin Donn
Illustrated by Phillip Martin
Wise Owl
Once upon a time, a long time ago, the Everything-Maker was very busy,
making all the animals and all the plants and all the rocks and caverns and
everything else that covered the earth.
Owl waited for his turn. He had been given a
voice, two eyes, a head, a body, and strong
wings. "I want a long neck like Swan," Owl
told the Everything-Maker. "I want red
feathers like Cardinal and a beak like
Hawk."
Wise Owl
"Yes, yes," mumbled the
Everything-Maker. “Whatever
you want. But you must wait
your turn."
The Everything-Maker looked
sharply at Owl.
"Your eyes are open again. You know that no one is allowed to watch me work.
Turn around and close your eyes. I have no time for you now. I am busy creating
Rabbit."
Wise Owl
The Everything-Maker turned his
attention back to Rabbit who was
shaking with nervousness. "And what
do you want, little rabbit?" the
Everything-Maker asked
encouragingly.
"Long legs and ears," Rabbit spoke
softly. "And fangs. Could I have a
fang or two? And claws.
I would dearly love to have claws!"
Wise Owl
The Everything-Maker smiled. "I think we
could manage some claws and fangs." He
smoothed Rabbit's long legs and ears.
"Silly Rabbit!" Owl hooted loudly. "Why
don't you ask for something useful, like
wisdom?“
"This is your last warning, Owl,” frowned
the Everything-Maker. “Be quiet and wait
your turn."
Wise Owl
Owl glared at the Everything-Maker. "You have to do it," he hooted. "You
have to give us what we ask. I demand wisdom!"
"I warned you, Owl!" shouted the
Everything-Maker. He shoved Owl's
head down into his body, which made
Owl's neck disappear. He gave Owl a
shake, which made Owl's eyes widen
in fright. He pulled Owl's ears until
they stuck out from his head.
Wise Owl
The Everything-Maker snapped, "I’ve made your ears big, the better to listen
and your eyes big, the better to see. I have made your neck short, the better
to hold up your head. I’ve packed your head with wisdom. Now, use your
wisdom and fly away before you lose what I‘ve given."
Owl was no longer a fool. He flew
quickly away, pouting and hooting.
Wise Owl
The Everything-Maker turned back to Rabbit, smiling gently.
"Claws," he reminded himself.
But Rabbit was gone. Rabbit had hopped hurriedly away,
too afraid of the Everything-Maker to stay for his fangs and
claws.
Wise Owl
Owl knew if he angered the
Everything-Maker again, he
would lose all that he had
gained. Even today, Owl only
comes out at night, when the
Everything-Maker is fast asleep.
As for Rabbit, his claws and fangs are waiting. Perhaps
someday ...
Today, Native Americans pass down their
traditions, such as native dances, to their
children. This person is wearing
traditional dress, but there are clues to
tell you that this is a picture from modern
times. Can you find some clues?
Native Americans have had to fight for
their rights to teach their children about
the traditions of the tribes, to hunt and
fish, and to open new businesses on the
reservations.
Today, there are schools on the
reservations like this one on the
Havasupai reservation in Arizona.
Here is a picture of Native
American children today!
P.S. Don’t forget Chief Limpy Leg!!!