History of People & the 1st Americans Oldest human relative found: “Ardi” 4.4 million yrs ago in Ethiopia.

People began to migrate… Reasons for migration: Search for food, shelter, and water Avoid conflicts with neighboring tribes Curiosity

The 1st Americans! Where: Across the Bering Straight How: Walked- People were nomads and relied on hunting and gathering. Why: Probably following the food source When: Archaeologists believe during the last ice age: 12,000 yrs ago or 10,000 B.C.E.

The Bering Straight- as sea levels dropped…land appeared

The Bering Straight Today…

The 1st Americans or Native Americans The 1st people into North and South America are Native Americans Native = Original inhabitant American = Person of North or South America “Indians” is NOT correct! The only Indians on this planet are people from the country, India. We often call NA (Native Americans) “Indians” b/c Christopher Columbus made a mistake!

Remember the difference! Indians Native Americans

How do we know about Native Americans? *The 1st Americans lived during pre-history (before written records), so they didn’t leave us any written records like books or articles. *We do use things like, artifacts, fossils, and hieroglyphics.

Native American Hieroglyphics

NA Culture Areas of North America

Major NA Tribes of North Carolina Lumbee - many were part of the famous/infamous “Lowery Gang”- retaliated against racist hate groups and oppressive (to hold one down; not give full freedoms, etc) government. Cherokee Tuscarora Catawba Hatteras Cape Fear Waxhaw

Town Creek NA Mound North Carolina

NA Life-Styles Nomadic/ Hunted and Gathered Fished and whaled Slash and Burn farming (once learned)- slash and burn down forests. Provides 2 things: 1. Clear area for a small village 2. Excellent soil for farming PROBLEM: Not sustainable- could only do it once, then they had to move on.

No paper money, so they used a barter system (trading)

NA Housing Tepees: tent-like homes made from wood and animal hides (often buffalo). * Tepees were common w/ the PLAINS (central part) NA.

2. Wigwams Wigwam means house in the Abenaki tribe 2. Wigwams Wigwam means house in the Abenaki tribe. They are small houses.

3.) Longhouses – were used by the Iroquois tribes (EASTERN WOODLAND PEOPLE). As many as 60 people could live in one.

4. Igloos: used by the Inuit tribes (PACIFIC NORTHWEST) or “real people.” We often call them Eskimos. The word Eskimo translates to “eater of raw meat.”

5. ) Pueblos: “small towns” in Spanish 5.) Pueblos: “small towns” in Spanish. Made out of sundried mud bricks called “adobe.” People of the SOUTHWEST were famous for these.

A more modern pueblo:

NA Families & Political Structure: Clan- Members of the same family Tribe- Many clans joining together Chief- Head of the tribe How did Native Americans get along w/out court systems, police, jails, etc? Do we, in 2010, rely on our community & family as much as NAs did?

NA Clothing & Survival Tools: *Remember… everything the NA made came from the land. NOTHING was wasted! Moccasins- made from tanned hides of deer, moose, elk, or buffalo.

Clothing- made from animal skins

Canoes Kayaks

Weapons – Were made out of WOOD and STONE Weapons – Were made out of WOOD and STONE. Knowledge of how to work w/ metal came much later! a. Spears & Arrowheads

B. Bows and Arrows

C. Tomahawks

Snowshoes

Headresses: worn for various reasons: 1. ) show one’s prestige, 2 Headresses: worn for various reasons: 1.) show one’s prestige, 2.) ceremonies, 3.) during battle, etc.

Totem Poles – thought to tell stories, celebrate important events, show change in leadership, etc.

Toboggan- Basically a sled that was used to carry game across snow or rough terrain. The Inuit (Eskimos) would often use sled dogs to pull them, the sleds, game, and supplies!

*Native Americans lived on North & South America for THOUSANDS of years before the “white man” ever stepped foot on to their soil. That all changed in 1492…