Vocab for Native Americans of The West and Southwest

totem pole - carved logs with painted symbols of animals or people.

potlatch - a special feast (party) where the host give gifts to the guests.

migrate - to move

hogan - a domed shaped house made of mud and sticks for one family.

Native Americans of the West

*Inuit - in Alaska - learned to live in bitter cold of the Arctic -they built pit houses covered in stone and earth to keep warm. Used igloos while hinting, built tents with poles and animal skins. Hunted whale, walrus,fish, and seals. Used every part of the animals.

*Environment helped form culture.

*Cahullia - Southern California, used desert plants including roots, berries, and cactus for food. Grew crops maize, beans, melons, and squash Fished small lakes, dug wells for water.

*Extreme Arctic to hot, dry deserts - cultures grew according to the climate and natural resources.

Pacific NorthwestLike other Native Americans, used only what plants and

animals that they needed to survive.

*Rocky narrow coastline and off shore islands provided wild plants, and fish (especially salmon)

*Used stone axes to cut fir and cedar trees - hollowed logs, as long as 60 feet, to make canoes. Used to hunt whale in Pacific Ocean.

*Logs were also carved into boxes, dishes, spoons, and masks

*made totem poles that told stories of important family members and celebrated special events.

Potlatch - when totem was raised, family held a potlatch. Today potlatches bring people together for events like births, deaths, and marriages of family members.

Got most of their food form the sea

Traveled by canoe to trade surplus goods

with other groups along the coast.

Their extensive system of trading made them very wealthy.

Became skilled craftsman wove colorful baskets and blankets.

Built houses of wooded planks large enough to hold several related families.

Totem poles stood in front of each house .

Live in present day Alaska.

Tlingit:

Southwest*The pueblo found a way to farm the dry hard desert - learned to grow maize

*Built pueblo homes out of adobe - looked like apartment buildings - ladders led up to roof kept enemies and intruders out

*Navajo - were hunter gatherers who migrated into the desert southwest. Love in the 4 corners area.

*Adapted to the ideas and practices of their neighbors - used dry farming to grow crops. Make fine turquoise jewelry

Navajo Living

*Believed in a balance to the earth.Called it walking in beauty

*Captured sheep for the Spanish, in 1600 many Navajo became shepherds - meat for food, wool for clothes and blankets.

*Lived in hogans - dome shaped homes for one family covered with mud, sticks, or sod.Were often 6 sided - facing east to catch morning sun.