Amerindians 2 – Six tribes

Here is an alphabetical list of all Amerindian tribes.

Let’s have a look at six important tribes. Here’s a map first to see where exactly they lived.

The PUEBLO (NAVAJO):

• lived in the Southwest (today’s Arizona and New-Mexico states);
• organized farming people (beans, maize)
• lived in „pueblos” (villages / towns) on top of cliffs in houses made from adobe, stone and wood
• clothes made of cotton; shoes were moccasins
• built canals across the deserts to bring water
• a famous Pueblo was Popé (Popay) – a religious leader who led the Pueblo Revolt against the Spanish in 1680

The APACHE:

• lived in the Southwest, were neighbours of the Pueblo
• never settled – wandered  across mountains and deserts
• stole lands and food from the Pueblo
• a famous Apache: Geronimo (a leader and medicine man)

The IROQUOIS:

• lived in the Northeastern Woodlands
• a group of five tribes (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk, formed as a confederation called the Iroquois Leauge in 1570) in the Eastern Woodlands;
• skilled farmers (maize, beans), hunters and fishermen; lived in longhouses (home to cca. 15 – 20 families)
• used canoes to move on rivers & lakes
• fierce warriors
• a famous Iroquois was Chief Logan (was friendly with settlers, but after they killed his brother, C.L. made his revenge)

The SIOUX (Lakota; Dakota)

• lived in the Great Plains
• they called themselves Dakota (allies); other Indians called them Sioux (enemies)
• grew no crops, built no houses
• followed the buffalo from pasture to pasture (for clothes, shelter etc.)
• lived in tepees (= tipi; teepee)
• carried fire from one place to another
• a famous Sioux: Sitting Bull (leader and medicine man); won at the Battle of Little Bighorn against General Cluster

The HAIDA:

• lived in the Northwest
• history of the tribe on totem poles
• gathered nuts and berries; fished for salmon
• lived in wooden plank houses

The CHEROKEE:

• lived in the Southeast (in the territory of today’s Georgia state)
• one of the 5 most civilized tribes (Cherokee, Chikasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole)
• had their own schools and constitution
• a Cherokee band was led by two chiefs: a war-chief and a peace-chief
• a famous Cherokee leader was Sequoyah: he created a writing system for his tribe

Go to the Names, terms and dates and on Quizlet for vocabuary and definitions.

Click HERE for more about Amerindian lifestyle and picture vocabulary.

 

Advertisement