1. Native American Origin Myths

2. Beginnings- 1750 Historical Background   By 1492 North America was populated with several hundred tribes of Native Americans. – –In North America 30x longer than Europeans – –Widely dispersed across North America – –A variety of languages, governments, social organizations, customs, religions, diets, housing, and methods of survival

3. The Onondaga   From modern day New York area   One of the 5 original members of the Iroquois Confederation   Lived in villages of wood and bark longhouses   Peaceful people   Known for lacrosse- a game played with a hand-held basket and a ball   Currently Onondaga still live in the area on a reservation

4. Modoc   Lived in villages in Oregon and Northern California   Hunted, farmed, and fished   Known for skilled weaving   Warrior culture   When forced onto a reservation by US government, a band rebelled under a sub- chief known as Captain Jack

5. Navajo   Lived in the southwest   Fierce warriors and hunters   Intermarried with the peaceful Pueblo who taught them to weave and farm   Today the Navajo nation is the largest Native American nation in the US with over 100,000 members   Currently live on Navajo reservation across Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico   Known for valuable contribution as “code talkers” in WWII

6. Iroquois   Powerful nation   An alliance of Iroquoian speaking tribes: – –Mohawk – – Oneida – –Seneca – –Cayuga – –Onondaga   Had a developed democratic government with elected leaders   Iroquois tribes still exist today

7. Oral Tradition   The stories that are passed down from generation to generation in a culture without written language.   Stories and songs capture a culture’s – –ideals – –values – –concerns – –history – –fears

8. Origin Myths   Stories that meet the needs of a culture to explain – –The origin or beginning of elements of the natural world   Humans and animals   Tribes   The Earth   Oceans   Mountains

9. Origin Myths Customs, institutions, or religious rites   Marriage ceremonies   Religious/spiritual practices   Coming of age ceremonies

10. Origin Myths   Events beyond human control – –Weather – –Natural disasters   Tornadoes   Volcanoes   Earthquakes – –The Ocean – –Birth and death

11. Origin Myths   Origin myths often teach a moral lesson – –Obey your parents – –Don’t go out in the dark by yourself – –Keep trying and don’t give up

12. Cultural Details   Origin myths include details that identify the culture’s values and way of life – –The importance of dreams as a message – –Marriage customs – –Method of survival   Farming   Hunting – –Environmental influences   Valuable animals   Natural resources (mountains, ocean, plants)