Native American Literature

September 5 Warm-Up Who were the first humans to “discover” America? Do some on-line research – were you correct?

Native American Literature Oral Tradition Diverse traditions (300+ distinct groups) Concerned with living in harmony with nature Myths Origin Myths Explains the natural world (cause and effect) Supports customs, institutions, religious practices Guides people Instills a sense of awe at the world and its creations

Native American Literature “The Earth on Turtle’s Back” Creation Myth Functions?

The Onondaga The Onondaga is a Native American tribe located in what is now the central part of New York state. They are one of six tribes that are part of the League of the Iroquois. The League of the Iroquois met in Onondaga which served as their capital.

Onondaga History The Onondaga have been around since around 1200 AD. During the American Revolutionary War, the Onondaga remained neutral until the Americans attacked their main village. They then joined the side of the British along with most of the League of the Iroquois. When America gained independence, many Onondaga went to Six Nations, Ontario. In 1794, the Onondaga signed the Treaty of Canandaigua. This treaty made it so that the United States acknowledged the Onondaga’s right to their homeland.

Important Things to Know About the Onondaga They were a very influential tribe. They lived in villages of wood, bark longhouses. Related families lived together. They acquired the French language from Canada. They did not believe in fighting. They left the Confederation during the American Revolution.

The Navajo The Navajo are from the southwest, with most of their tribe members living in Arizona and New Mexico. The Navajo are the largest federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States.

Navajo History Before contact with the Pueblo and Spanish, the Navajo were hunters and gatherers. After contact with the Pueblo, they began planting crops. After contact with the Spanish, they began herding sheep and goats. The Navajo and Apache are believed to have migrated from Alaska and western Canada around 1400 AD. Lived in hogans which are made from wood and mud. The Navajo tribe is normally matrilineal.

Navajo History Continued In 1846, the US signed a peace treaty with the Navajo, but neither groups honored the treaty. In 1849, the US signed a treaty with the Navajo allowing the US to build forts on Navajo land. In 1861, the US began attacking the Navajo in great numbers. They began a scorched earth campaign which killed Navajo, and destroyed their land, crops, and homes. Two years later, the final Navajo surrendered. In 1864, the Navajo were forced to walk 300 miles to Fort Sumner in New Mexico for internment, but this failed. In 1868, the US signed a treaty allowing the Navajo to return to a reservation on a small portion of their homeland.

Important Things to Know About the Navajo Largest Native American Nation in the United States Fierce warriors and hunters in the Southwest Eventually intermarried with the Pueblo people and became weavers In 1864, they were driven from their territory by the US Army Continued culture on a reservation

The Iroquois The Iroquois  are comprised of the Six Nations: Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora. Most Iroquoian people have a matrilineal kinship and women have a strong influence.

Iroquois History Most believe the League was formed sometime between 1450 and 1600. In the 1600s, they fought the Beaver Wars against the French and other Native American tribes to try to gain control of the beaver fur trade. In 1701 they signed the Great Peace of Montreal with the French. During Queen Anne’s War, they planned attacks against the French.

Iroquois History Continued During the French and Indian War, the Iroquois sided with Britain against the French and Algonquian, both of whom were the Iroquois’s traditional enemies. After the American Revolution, most of the Iroquois moved to Canada. Those who stayed in New York, were forced to live on reservations.

Important Things to Know About the Iroquois Lived in New York State Formed the Iroquois Constitution of Five Nations Tribes were democratic in their process