1. Native Americans Cultural Groups Eastern Woodlands, Southeastern, Plains, Southwestern, and Pacific Northwestern

2. Major Native American Cultural Groupings
Eastern Woodlands
Southeastern
Plains
Southwestern
Pacific Northwestern

3. Words You’ll Need to Know
tribe-a group of families bound together under a single leadership, share a common culture
league-an organization that people form which unites them for a particular purpose
culture-way of living
cultural region-an area in which people with similar cultures live

4. Eastern Woodlands

6. Example of Eastern Woodlands The Iroquois lived in the Eastern Woodlands cultural region. Five Iroquois tribes came together to form the Iroquois League. (later six) Iroquois people used their surrounding resources of the Eastern Woodlands to meet their needs.

7. Eastern Woodlands Everyday Life
Way of life: hunting and farming
Hunted animals that were plentiful in the area
deer, bear, elk, and beaver
used traps
Fished in lakes, rivers, and streams
Grew crops
corn, beans, squash, tobacco
Used the woodlands for food and clothing

8. Eastern Woodlands Everyday Life
Traveling
by canoes for water
used snowshoes over snow
by foot mostly
moccasins-like slipper made of animal skin
Animal Skins
used to make clothing

9. Eastern Woodlands Physical Environment
Thick forests
Used the woodlands for food and clothing
Many carved tree wood into bowls, tools, and utensils
Some made bark or grass baskets for gathering and storage
Cleared part of the woodlands to make room for fields of crops
Made birch wood canoes

10. Eastern Woodlands Physical Environment
Lived in longhouses
Some tribes lived in birch-bark wigwams and some built dome-roof houses
Gathered the sap for maple syrup (attached birch-bark containers to maple trees)
Paddled through waterways to fish
Gathered berries and nuts
knew which ones were safe and delicious

11. Eastern Woodlands Culture
Based on hunting and farming
Felt deep connection to animals, trees, and other resources around them (Ex. Hunter/deer connection)
Gave thanks for their crops
Iroquois wampum belt
Sang and danced to the rhythms of rattles and drums
ex. rattles made of turtle shells

12. Eastern Woodlands Culture
Believed that the trees, clouds, rivers, and other natural surroundings had spirits living within them
Respected nature
Took just what they needed and no more…healthy balance

13. Eastern Woodlands Governing
Native American tribes joined together and formed the Iroquois League [about 1580]
Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk (later Tuscarora)
Sent 50 representatives, all men, to a Great Council
made decisions for the whole league
*Cool Fact* The older women of the tribes chose these men. (could also remove them)

14. The Iroquois Today About 50,000 Iroquois today
many live on reservations* in New York state (*land set aside by the U.S. government for Native Americans)
50 members still form its Great Council
League members have become skilled builders of city skyscrapers
mainly from the Mohawk tribe