native american myth project

8/3/2019 Native American Myth Project

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The Cheyenne Tribe

By:Tasia Brodsky, Zach Rolfs,Alex Hall, and Hldi Nielsen


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A Brief History of the Cheyenne There is no written record of where the Cheyenne were, how they lived, or

where they came from prior to the 16th century On the oldest record, the Cheyenne were known as an agricultural tribe (they

farmed for their food) and they lived in the upper Mississippi Valley After they traded with the Spanish (in the 1700s) and acquired horses, the

Cheyenne became hunters of the buffalo (as they are today)o The buffalo provided food, clothing, tools, and jewelry for the Cheyenneo The Cheyenne never ate the meat located on the front of the buffalo

underneath its' chin because they believed it was human flesh The Cheyenne are a relatively peaceful tribe The only war with another native american tribe they were involved in was

with the Pawneeo The Kiowa, the Araparo, and the Crow were allies with the Cheyenneo The Pawnee won this war in 1853 and forced the allied tribes off their

lands


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Past location of the Cheyenne Tribe

Before American settlers came, the cheyenne movedaround a lot

They did this to be able to hunt big game and not wipe outareas of animal population

By the time American settlers met them, the Cheyenne werein the Great Plains Area (South Dakota, Wyoming,Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas)

These areas were made up of vast plains which were good

for the type of hunting they did.


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The Relocation of the Cheyenne

During the 1800's the United States government startedforcing the Cheyenne to move to an Oklahoma reservation

Some of the Cheyenne escaped and moved north inMontana

Those in Montana were eventually forced onto a reservationthere.

Orange indicatesCheyenne reservation inOklahoma


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Current location of the Cheyenne

Today about 60% of Cheyenne live on a reservation inWestern Oklahoma (known as the Southern Cheyenne)

The rest live either on a reservation in Montana (known asthe Northern Cheyenne) or live with Dakota and Sioux tribeso The Montana reservation has about 4,868 Cheyenne

members living on it todayo It is approximately 44,000 acres in size (99% owned by

tribe members)

Pink indicates location ofCheyenne reservation inMontana


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Characteristics of Tribe Division of Work:

o Men- Hunted Made Tools and Weapons

o Women- Gathered Sticks Tanned Animal Hides

Free Time Was Spent:

oImproving Physical Appearance

o Listening to The Stories of Elderso Making Jokeso Peace pipes and storytelling were important


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Characteristics of Tribe (cont.)

Politics:o Tribe was run by Chief andcouncil of respected meno The Chief was chosen for his generosity, kindness,

sympathy, and courage

Language:oA distinct dialect of the Algonquin language

o Still used today; kept alive as tradition


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The Peace Pipe

Many ruleso Prayers offered beforehando Specific ways to smoke it


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Religious Practices of the Tribe

Man-hood Ritual:o 4 days of fastingo Enhances 'spiritual power'

Sun DanceFestival:

o Held every summero Brought new life to tribeo Gather in circle opening to the Easto Sacred objects

o Buffalo hato 4 arrowso (For good health, long lives, and plenty of food)


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Cheyenne Gods, spirits, and heros.

Gods Maheo/great medicine/Heammawihio - Supreme god or

great spirit

Maiyun - The great spirit Wihio- Spider trickster!

Spirits- Star Spirits

- Spirits in animals


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Creation!

Haemmawehio created man from right rib and woman fromhis left

Placed on opposite sides of the earth man=heat, woman=cold Their battle resulted in the seasons

*Great medicine grants power to humans (arrows)


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Some more...

Everything could talk and there was a common language Three kinds of people: hairy, white people with hair on head

and legs, red hairless people The red people were more advanced and blessed with

knowledge from GM The earth grew harsher, the red men suffered The Great Medicine took pity on them but most died The Cheyenne are the red man's descendents.


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The Legend of Falling-Star

Birth of Falling-Star

-Two girls were stargazing

-Brightest star kidnaps the girl-Allowed to garden, but not the white turnips-Girl was homesick-She fell, but the unborn child survived


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The Legend of Falling-Star

The Life of Falling-Star

-Raised by larks-Returned to the tribe-Killed Water-Monster-People could get water again-Moved to another lodge

-Killed White Crow-People could hunt buffalo again


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Archetypes

-The Child-The Hero-The Mentor

-The Shadow-Mother/father=first humans. nurtured the earth with contrastingpowers.


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Connections!

Cheyenne creation myth very similar to Christianity First humans were created by a God like in most of the

myths we've studied Created from God himself Man raised by animals must return to mankind

o Jungle book


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Values!

-Be careful what you say-Obey to authority-Help the elderly

-Fight with courage


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Do we have time for a video,Ms.Teacher?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yASrfwkunm8&feature=player_embedded#!


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Works Cited"Falling-Star." Indigenous Peoples Literature. Web. 28 Dec. 2011. .Cheyenne Indian. Web. 30 Dec. 2011. .http://www.aaanativearts.com/cheyenne-indians/index.html

"Cheyenne Indians."AAA Native Arts. Web. 30 Dec. 2011.Tasia:"The Cheyenne and Arapaho." Coloradohumanities.org. Colorado Humanities, 2010. Web. 29 Dec.2011. .

Alex:"Native American Creation Stories - Cheyenne - Great Medicine Tale." Junto Society Home Page. Web. 30 Dec. 2011.."Kansas: Cheyenne Anthem." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 1 Jan. 2012..CHEYENNE TRIBE. Web. 2 Jan. 2012. .


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Works Cited (cont.)

Hldi:"The Cheyenne Tribe." Omaha Public Library. Omaha Public Library, 1998. Web. 08 Jan. 2012.

Redish, Laura, and Orrin Lewis. "Facts for Kids: Cheyenne Indians (Cheyennes)." Native Languages of the Americas. NativeLanguages of the Americas, 1998. Web. 08 Jan. 2012.

"Northern Cheyenne Tribe." Northern Cheyenne Nation. Ed. Wallace. Northern Cheyenne Nation, 2011. Web. 08 Jan. 2012.

Pritzker, Barry.A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2000. Print.

Waldman, Carl, and Molly Braun. Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1988. Print.

Element Fusion. "Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes." Welcome | Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. Element Fusion, 2010. Web. 08 Jan.2012.

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