Earliest Indians

 Earliest Indians left no written history however, during the 19 th century ( or the 1800’s) this began to change.  Possible reasons for the change: ▪ Contact with European settlers made them want to make sure later generations would know about their history, culture, and traditions. ▪ Indians learned to speak English or Spanish because as more Europeans invaded their territory, they needed to be able to communicate with them.

 High mountains and plains, deep canyons and lakes  Nevada and Utah, most of western Colorado, portions of southern Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming, southeastern California, and northern Arizona and New Mexico.

 Average climate:  summer temperatures are high (often over 100 degrees)  winters are cold (temperatures sometimes falling to 20 degrees below zero),  The amount of rainfall varies dramatically from year to year.

 The Paiute lived and survived in a land where many others died.  They were able to adapt to the climate and lack of food.  Their land was sacred (holy) to them.

 The women were gatherers and the men were hunters.  The amount of plant life was scarce, so were the animals available for hunting therefore:  They dug for anything edible - seeds, nuts, berries, roots, snakes, lizards, insects and rodents - referred to as "diggers".  They lived in small traveling groups that continued their paths searching for food.

 Autumn was the best time of the year for Paiute Indians  They gathered together in a large group for the pinecone harvest.  Told stories, danced, sang, and had a good time.

 1. Where is the Great Basin? What is the climate like?  2. Who are the Indians who lived in the Great Basin? How did they live?  3. What was the best time of year for the Paiute? Why?

 Recording a Life  Imagine that you are a Paiute Indian who has been taught to write in English by missionaries, solders, or settlers. Write a diary entry (a paragraph) describing your everyday activities.