First People Research Paper

Northern Indians depended on hunting and gathering. During the spring they lived near the river which allowed them to catch fish, whales and seals. Children would catch birds and bird eggs for food. They kept their hunting to a moderation which allowed animal populations to be sustained. They also ate native plants such as strawberries, raspberries, and other wild plants. During the months of October through March Indians moved to the forest where they hunted beaver, moose and deer. They tried to use every part of the animals they hunted; they used the animals' skin as clothing and their bones as tools. Certain tribes had rules on what to do with left over animal parts. They kept population from increasing in the winter by not storing enough food, which caused some Indians to die during the winter. They also set big forest fires during the summer and fall, which in the long run increased nutrients in the soil. An abundance of grass for the animals made the soil warmer and drier, which allowed oak trees to grow. When the colonists arrived everything changed, the land began to be altered.

Land was not divided, it was shared. Teepees were set up in a circle and ceremonies and dances were held in the center. Even when the Indians were short on something, they always managed to share what they had with other tribes in need. They did not do this because they had to, it was the code that they lived by. When a neighboring tribe of Black Elk’s was on the move without any food or clothing, they gave them as much food and clothing as possible even though they were short themselves. Nature also played a large role in the Indian’s lives. “Birds make their nests in circles, for their religion is the same as ours” (APT 315). The traditional Sioux way of life created interdependence between man and nature. Respect for the cycle of the seasons and animal life was necessary in order to secure food, clothing, and shelter. When the Indians lived in cooperation with nature, those necessities were available to them. They were available in such plenty, that their very existence seemed proof of the care of the Great Spirit. Bison were very important to the Native Americans. Even though they hunted and killed them they had great respect and love for them. They only hunted what they needed to survive. When they did kill a bison, every part of it was used. The meat was used for food, and the fur was used for clothes. The bones were even used as tools and weapons. Nothing was wasted.

The buffalo were evidently everything to the Native Americans, hereby causing the defeat of buffalo to fall hand in hand with theirs. The plains Indians used bison as not only food, but in religious rituals, for clothing, for hunting, for shelter, and more. The buffalo were an integral part of the native’s lives. In the aftermath of the increasing killings of bison, the lives of countless Native Americans were destroyed. The said 30-60 million buffalo which had roamed freely upon the Great

A important dilemma in my personal life is about my experience as a first generation immigrant in the United States. My parents take extra precaution to make sure I do not loose sight of where I came form and so, my parents drive to Mexico every year with my sister and I to see relatives who are living in conditions worse than ours so that we are grateful of our life in America. As I see my cousins and nieces/nephews grow up, I see realize that they have no real role model to look up to as no one has completed college when their parents exited high school and some not even that. So I want to help my family members to aspire to be something better in life and not a mailman or manual laborer like my father and uncles. I would like to instill

The first native american tribe is the Cherokee and they were a very empowering tribe from the family iroquoian and with holding the whole mountain region of the alleghenies in southwest virginia . The daily life of the Cherokee was that they ate deer, turkey, berries, potatoes, pumpkin, fish and they lived in villages but in each village there were longhouses not just any ol’ regular house and the cherokee was also called the real people .

The Buffalo were very important to the Native Americans tribes living in the Great Plains because Buffalo was their main food. They have many uses like: Buffalo bones provided marrow to eat, Buffalo bones were carved to make knives, and could boiled to make glue, Buffalo skin could be used to make clothes, moccasins, bedding, saddle covers and water-bags, dried Buffalo dung provided fuel for fires, and even the tail of a Buffalo could be used as a fly swatter. Then tragedy struck. When the first explorers came to the Great Plains, they killed over 35 million buffalo for either sport or food and the drive the Indians of the Great Plains. That step reduced the buffalo population to 1,500 but the year of 1912.

Totem poles were used for different things in each tribe. For example, in the Lillooet tribe mortuary poles were used to mark grave sites (“Lillooet” American History). In the Haida totems were used as a way of indicating rank in lineage (“Haida” American History). For the Tlingit tribe mortuary poles are given as wedding gifts to be placed outside the home of the newlyweds (“Tlingit” American History). “Wood carving was probably the preeminent Bella Coola art. Masks, entry poles, house frontal poles (with entry through a gaping mouth), and carved posts were often painted and decorated with crest figures. They had no fully developed totem pole” (“Bella Coola” American History). “The Kwakiutl were artists. Even in utilitarian items, visual art was joined with rhetoric, mythology, and performance art to glorify the kin groups. Wooden objects, such as massive house posts, totem and commemorative poles (non aboriginal), masks, rattles, feast dishes, and other objects used for crest displays were carved and/or painted” (“Kwakiutl” American History).

Native American sweat ceremonies usually take place in round, circular lodges. Some cultures use teepees, or even pits that are covered with tree branches. Most lodges or teepees are generally made of wood. Hot rocks are placed in the middle of the lodge by a firekeeper and heated to 102 degrees. Water is occasionally poured over the heated rocks to create a hot and steamy lodge. The lodge is designed to make it a safe and sacred place. It is where they can go to concentrate on the “spirits” that are invited to the ceremony. Some ceremonies can last up to two hours (K. Cohen, 2006).

Native American sweat ceremonies usually take place in round, circular lodges. Some cultures use teepees, or even pits covered with branches or tree trunks. Most are generally made of wood. Hot rocks are placed in the middle of the lodge by a firekeeper and heated to 102 degrees. Water is periodically poured over the heated rocks to create a hot and steamy room. The lodge is designed to make it a safe and sacred place where the members can concentrate on the “spirits” that are invited to the ceremony. Some ceremonies can last up to two hours (K. Cohen, 2006).

Butcher's meat was a luxury. However food greatly improved in the By the late 19th century the railways and steamships made it possible to import cheap grain from North America so bread became cheaper. Refrigeration made it possible to move cheap meat. Buffalo meat was the main food of the Sioux people and they made use of every part of its body. With the buffalo skin they made clothing, bedding, tents, carrying bags, harnesses and boats for crossing rivers. In the winter, when buffalo were hard to hunt, the Sioux ate dried buffalo meat. They would make jerky by drying buffalo meat. It was portable and was good for hunters because they had something to eat when they are hunting. The Sioux also ate other meats like bear, deer, antelope, and wild turkey and hens. Wild fruits like cherries, berries, and plums were also eaten. Also wild vegetables like potatoes, spinach, and prairie turnips. The most important crop was called the Three Sisters they were maize, squash, and beans. Food was often traded between the various tribes. They thought their future was secure bit as the "white man" came more of what they hold dear was disappearing. For example, their land, food, and

Many conflicts arose between white Americans and Native Americans when it seemed as though the white Americans had taken control over almost all of America. Native Americans viewed land as something to be used communally by everyone. The idea of dividing land and selling it to be sold was completely absurd to the natives. Land however, was divided by the white Americans, and they made profit of off the resources of the land. A major part of the Indians way of life was their use of the buffalo. Not only did they eat the buffalo, they used every single part possible of the buffalo for basic necessities. Some of the uses include :the skin for clothing, bones to make knives, and the hooves and horns for cups and bowl. On the other hand, buffalo

The Native Americans used their natural resources by carving wood to make wooden tools. They use sharp rocks to cut things. They use wood to make canoes. They use stones and rocks to make houses.

During the Indian times the Sioux would do different things to get food, water, and shelter. Often they would have to move near lakes and rivers and animals to get more supplies. Buffalo is one of the main supplies for everything like their shelter and coats.

The word totem derives from the Algonquian word “odoodem” meaning kinship group. You can see how that represents a totem pole well because a ceremony for a new pole is watched by hundreds of tribe members. More than just beautiful carvings, totem poles represent myths, legends, and honourable stories of families or tribes.

Totem Poles are not just for show, but for other very important things. There are three important reasons why Totem Poles are important. Those three reasons are 1) it showed spiritual significance, 2) who watch over the families, 3) symbolizes guardian spirits or helpers each of the animals. Totem Poles are made by the Indian tribes in the North West of America. There are many different kinds of Totem Poles like these: Genealogy, Clan, Social status, Memorial, a Deceased clan member, Mortuary, deceased. Those are just a few of the different kinds of Totem Poles. So let's talk in detail how these three things are important.