Southeastern Native Americans By: Mrs. Coates

Standards/Objectives –Compare the cultures of the major Native American groups. At the end of this lesson you will be able to describe the everyday life, environment, and culture of the Southeastern Native Americans.

Location They lived East of the Mississippi River in the Southern Portion of the United States. s/curriculum/nativeamerica ns/index.html s/curriculum/nativeamerica ns/index.html

Environment / Villages The environment they lived in had mountains, rivers, forests, swamps and grasses. Many families lived in one village. Villages were permanent. Villages were surrounded by pointed wooden poles to protect them.

Homes Their summer homes were called chickees. –chickee = a house built to live in during warm weather. The frame was made from trees and the roof was made from palmetto leaves or grasses. Their winter homes were built in a rectangular shape like a regular house. –Branches and vines would be tied around wooden poles for the frame. Mud or clay was then put on the branches and vines to cover the house. The roof was made from palmetto leaves or grasses.

Food The Southeastern Native Americans were hunters-gatherers and farmers. Hunters: –deer, elk, bear, squirrel, birds, frogs, crayfish and fish –Used bows/arrows, spears, blowguns, and darts (made from cane, trees, bones, and stones) Gathered nuts and berries. Farmers –Corn **, beans*, pumpkins, squash*, sunflowers*.

Government They were governed by a council. –A council is a group of people selected to make decisions for the tribe. –All meetings were in a Council House in the center of the village. Their leaders were called chiefs. Chiefs were selected by their achievements. –Red Chief = led in times of war –White Chief = led in times of peace

Culture Southeastern Native Americans believed in spirits that created the earth, sun, moon, and stars. They believed in a Great Spirit that created the world and watched over them. Storytelling was very important. Ancestry and traditions were told by stories. When you were sick, you would see a shaman (medicine man).

Ceremonies Booger Ceremony: held the day before a war. Warriors would put on the booger masks they made and make fun of each other. The booger masks were the enemies. They felt that by doing this they could take away their enemies’ powers. Green Corn Festival: gave thanks to their gods for the food and good fortune. Held in August and lasted 4 days. Friendship Ceremony: held in the Fall. It was a time to forget grudges and make friendships.

THE END!

Resources Images: ericans/index.html ericans/index.html Information: erokee.html If you Lived with the Cherokee by Peter and Connie Roop