Hopi People

Above shows a religious ceremony of a Hopi village. The Hopi people's religion and spiritual beliefs were of much importance and a large part of their daily routines, pertaining to nearly every aspect of their traditional lives, such as farming and harvesting, social routines, the economy, and their distinct way of life known as "the Hopi Way." In these religious ceremonies (as you may be able to see in the image above) the Hopi people dressed up as and praised the religious and spiritual beings known as "Kachinas." The Kachinas were believed to be ancestors of the Hopi people who lived in the clouds above them as though they were constantly looking over their descendants and blessing them with good fortune.

"Hopi." Gale: U.S. History in Context, 2012. Accessed September 9, 
     2015.

http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/uhic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=UHIC&windowstate=normal&conten tModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&u=mnkblake &currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within _results=&p=UHIC%3AWHIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CC X4019400079.

David, Neil, J. Brent Ricks, and Alexander E. Anthony. Kachinas: Spirit Beings 
     of the Hopi. N.p.: Avanyu Publishing, 2007.

http://www.amazon.com/Kachinas-Spirit-Beings-Neil-David/dp/0936755539

Palermo, Dave. Thirst for Survival, 2005. 

https://beyondthemesas.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/thirst-for-survival.pdf

Cheyenne: Society and Religion

Image via: Card Cow

Above shows a typical Cheyenne village structured on the basis of kinship. The Cheyenne had strong bonds between groupings and thrived on social interaction. The tribe was also largely agricultural and nomadic. For that reason, behind the teepees they have set up a crop field mostly for produce such as wild rice of which they use for food and in some cases, trade.

Bibliography

Britannica Academic, s. v. "Cheyenne," accessed September 08, 2015,

http://academic.eb.com/EBchecked/topic/109944/Cheyenne.

This is a good but brief article which gives some key information on the spiritual side of religion of the Cheyenne people.

Campbell, Gregory. "Cheyenne." Encyclopedia of World Cultures. 1996. Encyclopedia.com.

(September 8, 2015). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458000051.html

The CODiE award winning database “Encyclopedia.com” brings an article on the Cheyenne which covers an abundance of topics ranging from general history to economy and labor.

(Cheyenne), Porcupine. "Account of the Ghost Dance Religion." Westward Expansion.

Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 1999. American Journey. U.S. History in Context. Web. 8 Sept. 2015. http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/uhic/PrimarySourcesDetailsPage/PrimarySourcesDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=UHIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=PrimarySources&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&search_within_results=&p=UHIC%3AWHIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ2160000069&source=Bookmark&u=mnkblake&jsid=5ac31de27394cc8107f78f6cb4f0a0b1

Although the primary source is post-contact. Porcupine offers great insight on the general friendliness of the Cheyenne people.

"Classical America: The West: Great Plains." American Eras. Vol. 1: Early American

Civilizations and Exploration to 1600. Detroit: Gale, 1997. 34-35. U.S. History in Context. Web. 8 Sept. 2015. http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/uhic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=UHIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&search_within_results=&p=UHIC%3AWHIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CCX2536600019&source=Bookmark&u=mnkblake&jsid=c3d316f15202fc547f724a546398db54

This article from Gale has two great sections on the history of the Cheyenne pre contact.

New World Encyclopedia contributors, "Cheyenne," New World Encyclopedia, accessed

September 9,2015.

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Cheyenne&oldid=969185

In association with STEM Education, New World Encyclopedia gives an article about Cheyenne life, I was more interested in the religion section of the article.

Lipan Apache: Religion, Traditions and More

Photo via Calisphere

Most Indigenous American religions, like Lipan Aches, aren’t affiliated with churches or holidays, but with the oral tradition that describes the appropriate affinity with/behavior toward sacred objects, deities and one’s family and tribe. Apache religion and morals is based on a spiritual sense by which Apaches live with respect. This picture features Lipan Apache members dressed as Devil Dancers. This was a religious ceremony was completed by Apaches, thus fitting into the topic of religion. Along with this religious ceremony, the Apache have many important traditions, such as the ceremony of transition between a young female child and her going through puberty and becoming a woman. This Tradition is urged to be passed down through generations, along with countless others. The Apache language is one branch of the many Athabaskan languages. This language is shared with other tribes around the South Western tribes. The Apache tribe is one of many tribes residing in Arizona, and even though they may seem tough on the outside, they value the relationships between family members, paying attention to the development of strong families. I chose the Apache randomly, but have learned very much about who they are and what they value in their community.

Inuit: The Arctic Tribe

Image via The Coming of the First White Man

Inuit: The First People of the Artic

The picture above is an illustration of an Inuit tribe during the winter. Here we can see the common structure of Inuit homes, many were built og sticks and animals hides and were made so that they could always be moved around because many Inuit tribes were nomadic. 

The Anasazi: What Happened During the 13th Century?

"Mystery of the Anasazi." Rocky Mountain Legends. July12, 2012. Accessed September 8, 2015.

The Anasazi, an ancient Native American civilization, was evolving steadily over the course of the 1st-12th centuries. They transitioned from hunting/gathering to agriculture, slowly improved ceramic techniques, building techniques, etc. However, during the 13th century something happened to the Anasazi that caused a massive and violent shift in Anasazi culture. Archaeological discoveries that can be dated back to that century show signs of extreme violence and even cannibalism. There are a few theories to try to piece together what caused this violence, but nobody knows for sure what happened to these people.

Inuit: Thriving in a Harsh Enviorment

This picture shows a typical inuit family building an igloo.  Because the Inuit were always on the move and the cold environment they used the ice and snow to build small huts that were easily built and taken down. 

Ojibwe/Chippewa: The Great Northern Tribe

Image Via: Crystalinks

In this picture an Ojibwe family canoes down one of the numerous rivers that flows through the Midwest and Southern Canadian region. Nature was essential to the Ojibwe because they relied on it to support their lifestyle which is why parts of their religion was based off of nature. They relied on nature to provide animals for food and rivers for transportation. The Ojibwe need nature because of the resources it produced  for them to build tools and houses. The Ojibwe even fought other tribes such as the Dakota for the lands in northern Minnesota because of the potential it showed for making a good place to settle. Nature was a large part of the Ojibew's relgion as well as their lifestyle. The Ojibwe believed that they should not tamper with nature or change it but rather live with it because it gave so much to them. The Ojibwe also believed that they were no more important than a rock so they treated the land with great respect. Land on which the Ojibwe lived and also being in harmony with the land was so important to the Ojibwe that without their devotion to it the Ojibwe would of never had the success they achieved in the Midwest.

Crow: Following the Bison

Image via Edward Curtis Website

In this image, three members of the Crow tribe are seen offering a piece of bison meat to the Guardian Spirit, who was a supernatural teacher, frequently depicted in animal form. The Guardian Spirit would guide the people of the Crow tribe through every important event in their life. This symbolic image demonstrates how everything in Crow culture stemmed from the bison and just how important the bison was to the Crow, this can be concluded from this image as it shows that the bison was important enough to the crow to be sacrificed to the Guardian spirit, who was their guide in life. Bison was one of the main sources of food for the Crow which made it extremely valuable to the people of the Crow tribe. The Crows were a nomadic tribe, and they would follow herds of bison. Wherever the herds would go, the Crow would follow. This once again demonstrates the impact the bison had on the lives of the Crow. 

Apache: The Family Clan

This picture depicts a normal family living in an Apache tribe. This depiction shows two toddlers, a young child, mother, father, and the rest are older sons and daughters. Families most of the time would come together to make important decisions that would affect themselves.

Makah Tribe: The Cape People

Image via The Official Makah Site

The image above is of Makah tribe members rowing a canoe modeled after a traditional model in Neah Bay.  The image demonstrates the large importance of the sea in Makah culture.  The artifacts linked to each article are from Ozette and show the importance of craftsmanship in the Makah culture. The woven baskets show the precision and detail in the women’s work and the mask is an example of one of the masks used for the four day wolf ritual which was a very important ceremony for the Makah people.  The embellished whale fin was important to confirming and understanding how big of an influence the sea and whaling had on the Makah culture pre-contact.   The fishhook was also an amazing discovery because it shows the innovation of the Makah people through their fishing techniques.  The Whaling and fishing were a large part of Makah traditions due to their involvement in multiple rituals that were very important to the tribe and made them unique from many other tribes in pre-contact America.  There is a recent debate about whether traditional whaling on the Makah’s land should be a lawful act, due to the uprising of animal rights activists and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.  The Makah people signed the Treaty of Neah Bay in 1855, preserving their right to kill whales and seals in their usual fishing grounds, but when the Pacific gray whale was added to the endangered species list (due to the mass non-tribal, commercial whaling), the Makah people respectfully stopped their traditions.  When the animal was taken off the list in 1994, the tribespeople pushed for their rights to resume whaling to restore their religious and dietary culture.  Although many may believe whaling to be cruel, it is part of Makah culture and they have not abused their privileges.  In 2015, an environmental study was released, allowing the Makah to hunt 24 whales over a 6 year period.  The agreement is a good solution to the dramatic controversy that has unfolded over the past 20 years.  Whaling is an important part of Makah culture that should not be lost, although restrictions are necessary.

Casey, James. "Makah Whale Hunting Permit Effort, a Long-Fought Controversy,

    Would See Debate Resume." Peninsula Daily News (North Olympic Peninsula,

    Washington, USA), March 7, 2015. Accessed September 8, 2015. http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150308/NEWS/303089928.  

Shoshone Indians: Living in The Great Basin

http://americanindianshistory.blogspot.com/2011/10/shoshonean-indian-tribes-and-language.html

I picked this image of the women and children of the Shoshone tribe because it shows the style housing the Shoshones had due to harsh climates not accommodating to a more permanent way of living. The Shoshone were nomadic people who moved from place to place around the Great Basin area on either sides of the Rocky Mountains which affected the Shoshone later on with trade with Europeans, and also benefited the Shoshone because they came in contact with Europeans much later because of the region they were living in. I chose my primary source because it talked about the Rocky Mountains and the harsh climates which connected with the Shoshone indians because movement from area to area were common. I picked my topics as clothing, history of the Shoshone indians, food/hunting and patterns of movement. I chose those topics and my specific sources because I felt extremely interested in the clothing the Shoshone wore, the resources they found as well as the animals they hunted while on horses. These topics and sources dive deeper into who the Shoshone really were with their styles of migration to find new resources, and how they continuously were adapting to unfamiliar places.

Navajo: Land and Religion

Photo from NPR Newscast

This image displays a Navajo family in the desert-like environment of the Southwest. The Navajos, also known as the Dine, have been living in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest for hundreds of years. They believe that their homeland is geographically and spiritually located in an area that is bound by four major sacred mountains. Navajo land has significant importance to their culture along with the knowledge of story telling. Luci Tapahonso, a Navajo woman and storyteller, says "a person's worth is determined by the stories and songs she or he knows, because it is by this knowledge that an individual is directly linked to the history of the entire group." This connection between the land and the history of the Navajo tribe made them resistant and unified from the European settlers when they intruded the Southwest and their home. The sources chosen were mostly from a book called Native Heritage: Personal Accounts by American Indians 1790 to the Present. These stories of the past recall the thoughts and experiences of Navajo ancestors even before encounters with the Spanish.

Bibliography

Apache: The People of Devotion

Image via Historum

This image displays a few members of the Apache Tribe moments after a fight. This photo really embodies who the Apache people were. On the outside, and to their enemies, they were seen as a very warlike tribe who had no fear, and felt nothing for those they hurt because they believed they were doing it for the better. The Apache were very strong fighters, and the skill of fighting, raiding, and killing was taught to all infants from a very young age. However, within their tribe they had deep traditions rooted in honesty, care, and friendship. The Apache people had a language of their own that was used and passed down for generations. They also valued family, as much as or even more than, war. The Apache's daily life revolved mainly around their families and the other families around them. They valued truth among their families, and especially within their close relationships. Further, they valued religion very highly as well. All of actions of the Apache people were guided by their religion and they would seek guidance every day from their Gods on how to live that day, and what they could do to be their best self. Ultimately, the Apache people were more than just a war-like tribe, and although they were vicious against their enemies, they were loving towards one another, which is something that is often forgotten. The main source for this project was a book I found in the Blake Upper School Library that had 20+ pages written about the Apache tribe pre-contact. It had everything from what the Apache looked like physically, to how they fought and what they used to fight. The other sources I used were from databases that helped back up and further what the book had written. The primary source I used was a letter written in 1541 by a Spaniard visiting the Apache tribe, and in this letter the language/communication among the Apache was described.

Link to bibliography: https://docs.google.com/a/blakeschool.org/document/d/1nVd7_I0-0Y5_vjRWtr24rP8DvBivC64r0ojowNVaC_w/edit?usp=sharing

Dakota: Perceptions of the Dakota

http://cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2011/01/13/1294943243_7852/539w.jpg

I chose the image of a man riding a horse because it was drawn by the Dakota.  It is important for us, as the outsiders, to understand how the Dakotas see themselves.  This drawing is not of Native Americans running around wild and shooting buffalo willy-nilly(as they are sometimes portrayed in the media) nor is it a meditative old wise man.  This is a simple painting of a man riding a horse.  We, modern day Americans, have taken bits and pieces of the Dakota culture and applied them to all Native Americans.  Not all tribes dance the Grass Dance, in fact, very few divisions of the Dakota do it.  In addition, not all tribes hunted buffalo and rode horses.  We have also generalized the Dakota tribe when in reality there are divisions and subdivisions making up a very complex and successful tribe.  I say “we” but maybe I should be saying “me” because I myself have formed these stereotypes and generalizations in my head for as long as I can remember.  The engraving by Theodor de Bry from 1619 is the Dakota tribe through the eyes of a foreigner.  It is a perspective but a distorted one.  As humans, we make quick assumptions because we want to know everything that we possibly can but while making assumptions about the Dakota we never thought that maybe they weren’t true.  

Chippewa: Family and Tradition

Image via First Ladies

This image, taken of a Chippewa family, depicts the traditional housing, hunting and family norms for Chippewa culture. The Chippewa, one of the largest groups of Native Americans in North America, were a strong tribe with morals built on the unification of the people. Chippewa believed that is was important for a tribe to be unified in religion, family, hunting and leadership. The Chippewa had outstanding gender roles, which promoted near equality of men and women, and also promoted the importance of family. For the Chippewa, tradition made them not only independent from European settlers who came in 1612 but also unified as a tribe. Traditional burial rite, family structures and positions, and trial leadership were a few parts of the unification process that led the Chippewa tribe to near equality for women and men, and also the great leadership and competency shown at the time of contact with Europeans such as the French. Family was one of the most important parts in the Chippewa lifestyle, with the women and children having connections with home life, with men teaching children how to hunt and fish, and men and women knowing each other from the tribe since earlier in life. Chippewa, a very family oriented tribe, thus find themselves having trouble keeping traditions going after contact with Europeans. My sources, ranging from academic databases to books, help me decipher the correct history of the Chippewa people. The academic database Gale U.S. History in Context is a great resource that helped me find academic articles regarding the family structures of the Chippewa. The book that I used was helpful in using artifacts to connect the dots historically, and the primary source, effigy burial mounds, helps to further my knowledge of family for the Chippewa. 

Pueblo

Image Via: Pueblo Tribe Blog

The developed lifestyle, religious values, and diverse culture of the Pueblo people makes them one of the most unique tribes to ever inhabit the West. The image above helps display the agricultural, social, and the highly developed lifestyle of the Pueblo tribe. The Pueblo’s economy was focused on agriculture and the people partook in the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The men were usually responsible for working in the fields, and hunting, while the women spent most of their day working in the houses. The women also often took care of their kids, did pottery, or wove. Throughout this photo you can clearly see this lifestyle. The man is posed with a large arrow, the woman is holding a pot, the men in the back are working in fields, and kid seems to be learning from the father. Although it is more discreet, the large housing complex in the background helps show off the Pueblo’s advanced living conditions. The Pueblos were able to use their natural resources, which mostly included rock, straw, and mud to build these massive community houses. Other inventions and architectural constructions like these are how the Pueblo’s were able to differentiate themselves to become one of the most developmentally advanced and fascinating groups in the West.

Apache Indians

Image Via CNX

Dakota

The Dakota People

The Dakota people's ability to survive and thrive is largely due to their cooperation with their two neighboring tribes. The group known as the Sioux was made up of the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota tribes, and their alliance made them all successful. Their culture was very similar, and this allowed them to join together in times of struggle, and share with each other in times of prosperity. The main similarities in their culture were their language, family structure, and religion. While the three goups did speak their own unique language, they all originated from the same base Dakota language, with very similar variations starting in the different regions of the Sioux territory. Also, their social structure was connected to the other two groups, with the seven council fires being split between them. This made it much easier to work together across family groups. Another culture parallel was their religion. The Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota all had the same religion, going to spiritual war together, honoring the same animals, and all performing the same important ritual, the Sun Dance. All of these cultural similarities allowed the three groups to work together for the benefit of everyone. Their most important endeavors together were when they allied to fight, or more commonly, to find food. They often collected wild rice from the same lakes, or hunted the same buffalo and deer, or fished from the same waters. This cooperation with the other Sioux tribes, is the most crucial component to the success of the Dakota.

Native Peoples Prior to European Arrival. Accessed September 8, 2015.

http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/uhic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindowfailOverType=&query=&prodId=UHIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&u=mnkblake&currPage=&disableHighlighting=true&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&p=UHIC%3AWHIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CBT2313026896. 

Hopi: Traditions and Life

Image via Joshua John Arens

The Hopi Way

The balance between nature and people is known as the Hopi Way. This concept plays a central role in every dimension and aspect of the Hopi member’s life. The central theme behind the Hopi Way consists of peace, goodwill, spiritual knowledge, adherence to religious practices and responsibility for the Earth. The Hopi Way maintains a sense of unity throughout the Hopi tribe, which is a result of how the bond between the Hopi members and society has stayed so close throughout many years and conflicts. The links to the thinglink express some of the dimensions of the Hopi Way. Religion, importance of land, artisans and division of labor, and social structure are crucial categories within the Hopi tribe. The primary source used in the link above directly coordinates with the importance of the land. Written by Don Monogye, the primary source is a valuable source of examples that prove that the land is sacred in the Hopi Tribe. The various other sources used in the links above touch on topics such as the Kachinas, the Hopi Way and arts and crafts traditions, and many others. The photograph, containing the links, is the Hopi tribe participating in one of their ceremonies affiliated with the Hopi Way. The ceremonies represent ceremonial and traditional responsibilities associated with the Hopi Way.  Before European influences and intrusion, the Hopi Way was a concept actively used and remembered throughout the tribe, and now, to this day, the notion of the Hopi Way still is present in the 21st Century Hopi Tribe. The dimensions covered in the thinglink are still categories present in the Hopi lives, as well. Generations and generations have come and gone since the start of the Hopi Way, but no conflict has come between the Hopi Tribe and its sacred traditions, known as the Hopi Way.

Dakota Life: A Seasonal Semi Nomadic Cycle In the Struggle for Food

Image via Texample

The semi nomadic Dakota tribe lifestyle was dependent upon a seasonal cycle as a result of the harsh and varying environment of the upper midwest. In the beginning the Dakota struggled because there was extremely little food available within the region. The dry Falls, the freezing Winters, the wet Springs, and scorching Summers of the upper Midwest forced the Dakota to adapt their way of gathering food to the specific season. The Dakota tribe was divided into seven tribal groups that were later grouped into three divisions. The Santee, meaning eastern, lived in Minnesota, the Wiciyela, meaning central, lived in South Dakota, and the Teton, meaning western, lived in Minnesota and part of Wisconsin. The Dakota communities began to work together to find food and help each other survive. The Dakota would move throughout different regions depending on the season in order to find the best place to gather food based on the strategy they had for collecting food in that season. Under this systematic cycle and as a result of Dakota communities forming close bonds from working together to survive, the Dakota began to flourish despite the harsh environment, in 1678 through 1680, before their first contact with Europeans.

Inuit: A Tribe on the Move

Image via Canada Library and Archive

The picture of the igloo represents the Inuit community. One of the most important thing to the Inuits was their tribe and family. They worked together and everything that they did was to benefit each other. They shared their food and, even though it was supposed to be the men's responsibility to hunt, the entire community helped them. To survive, they had to work together to conquer the intense conditions.The harpoon is a very important tool for the Inuit people. Hunting was how they survived and almost everything that they did was focused around it. They followed their sources of food and most of their day was focused on catching food. The Inuits had to learn how to hunt on a different continent with a different climate and environment. This weapon and tool shows how the Inuits adapted to new situations. The snowshoes remind us how the Inuit people came to North America. They walked all the way from Siberia/Central Asia to Alaska. All they used to get there was their snowshoes. Ovilu, which is the primary source, was born into the Inuit tribe. She grew up in the culture and she still continues to live it today. She knows many traditional stories and now shares them with others. 

Bibliography

Billson, Janet Mancini, and Kyra Mancini. Inuit Women. Plymouth, United Kingdom: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2007.

Canadian Studies Program Canadian Heritage, ed. "The Inuit." Canada's First Peoples. Last modified 2007. Accessed September 7, 2015. http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_inuit1.html.

Dwyer, Helen, and Michael Burgan. Inuit History and Culture. New York, NY: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2005.

Morris, Brian. Religion and Anthropology. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

William, Ed. "Inuit." Inuit, 2nd ser., 4 (2008). Accessed September 7, 2015. http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/uhic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=UHIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&u=mnkblake&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&p=UHIC%3AWHIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE|CX3045301178.

Tribe: title

Image via Facebook

Description/explanation goes here

The Pueblo: Religion, Civilization, and Culture

Image Via: Crow Canyon Archaeological Center 2014 Pueblo Indian History for Kids. 

The people of the Pueblo tribe displayed an advanced society that allowed them to prosper with their trade, tribe relationships, art, and religious following. Their civilization had advanced aspects that were unmatched by any other tribe, allowing them to thrive before contact with the Spanish settlers. These people had little to no conflict with other tribes or people around them, a type of lifestyle that didn’t occur often before contact with settlers. The group believed in religious virtues that would stand strong even after Christian influence began, and the fortitude of the religion even scared some of the incoming settlers. The Pueblo art showed their tradition and sophistication, but it was also very innovative to many other cultures, using styles that had not been seen before. Finally, their leadership and dominance of the trade market in the southwest of America allowed this group to thrive even more. The Pueblo people developed a special set of skills over time that proved them to be extremely civilized at the time of contact with the Spanish settlers. The picture shows an illustration of what happens on in a Pueblo civilization, before any contact. Native Americans are seen working with crops, building homes, following religion, and preparing for trade. This group is not only interesting to any historian, but their lifestyle provides an in-depth look at the lifestyle of many other indigenous groups of the early American west.

Dakota: Once Were, Now Are

Image via: Edward Curtis

Hopi: The Hopi Way

Image Via Grand Canyon Association
The image above shows Hopi people dancing in an (annual) traditional ceremony along with handmade costumes and songs to incorporate. The word Hopi means “peaceful people”, which coincidentally portrays them perfectly. In order to live in peace and harmony, the Hopi people made a mutual decision to live the “Hopi way”. Involving ideals such as respectful behavior, humility, spirituality, caring for the Earth, family cohesion, generosity and work ethic, this lifestyle aided the Hopis to establish a rich religious culture that independently thrived prior to the arrival of the Europeans in 1540. From growing their own produce, to creating costumes from scratch for traditional ceremonies, the Hopi people were able to apply the Hopi way to daily activities, thus forming a mutual attitude towards nature and one another, allowing them to all live in harmony. The religion, customs and livelihood of the Hopis (demonstrated above) would not have remained stable if it weren’t for these consistent guidelines of life that helped the Hopis overcome obstacles and struggles together as one community. The Hopi way has not only monumentally affected the lives of each Hopi, but has unified their community and left a legacy that will be carried out for as long as the Hopi tribe may stand. As for my primary source, I used one that is first person point of view from an actual Hopi. He represents the Hopi community and the Hopi way well by explaining their morals and beliefs in his testimony before Bureau of Indian Affairs. I also used three books and one website, all of which incorporated the theme of the Hopi way, but individually centered around various aspects of their daily lives and livelihood.

Anasazi: The People of the Caves

Image via: photobucket

The picture above shows Chaco Canyon, located near Albuquerque New Mexico. I chose this photo because it really shows just how massive the Anasazi were able to get. With their often, very big houses, and their village located inside of a canyon, these people were not only able to adapt and survive, but were also able to thrive. The sources I chose were references from a database that contained culture, history, among many other things about the Anasazi. It showed me that these people were much ahead of their time, and with help from their location, were able to do things many other tribes weren’t able to do.

The primary source that I chose is an image of a ceramic duck, it was found around Chaco Canyon and was thought to have carried water for spiritual purposes, believing that this relic would help bring rain, the Anasazi carried this many places. The Anasazi also constructed primal trade routes, building very long roads that connected other groups of Anasazi, and also helped to create ties with other MesoAmerican groups.
The sources that I chose to use were references in a database called 'abc clio'. This database is very trusted, and can easily be used to find information on a variety of things.

Bibliography

Bureau of Land Management, ‘Duck Effigy Vessel’, 2014.

http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ahc/artifact_gallery/duck_effigy_vessel.html

Lister, Robert Hill, and Florence Cline Lister. Chaco Canyon: Archaeology and Archaeologists.

Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1981. Accessed Sept. 7, 2015

Pike, Donald, Anasazi: Ancient People of the Rock. American West Publishing Company, 1974. Accessed

7 Sept. 2015.

Ubbelohde, Carl, et al. A Colorado History, Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing Company, 2003.

Accessed Sept. 7, 2015

Watts, Timothy J. ‘Anasazi roads in Chaco Canyon.’, 2015.

http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1939042?

terms=chaco%20canyon&webSiteCode=SLN_HANC&returnToPage=%2fSearch%2fDisplay%2f193

9042%3fterms%3dchaco+canyon&token=011F8CC8EAF5E942C915374F47256332&casError=False

Accessed 7 Sept. 2015.

Navajo: Art and Women in Society

Photo via: Navajo Women and Culture

Navajo Tribe is an Indian tribe which are and were located in Southwest Unites States (mostly Utah area). During Pre-Historic times the Navajo Tribe was unique due to there inergration of women and the dipication of there sophisticated art. Navajo Women had many roles in society, but the three main roles which highly affected there society was industrializing, taking care of children, and art. Navajo women were not limited to staying at home and cooking, rather women would work in house jobs such as making fences and painting. Many women used to raise cattle such as sheep and goat, to use there wool and to make clothing, and other trade items. The goats would also be a great source of meat. Women had a say in there community and were highly respected. “Changing Women” is a oral tradition of the Navajo which is not only disscussed and shown in this ThingLink but is the root to why women in Navajo society were treated respectfully. Women were important to sustain Navajo religion and treat respect to there children. Oral tradition not only taught children but reminded women in the tribe there significance.The art produced by Navajo women such as pottery, baskets, and bead making truly affects the meaning and survival of Navajo people and there culture. Through art we discover that the Navajo people were not only cultured but civil people beliving in balance and livilyhood. This ThingLink will provide information on Prehistoric  Navajo art such as beadmaking, and pottery and also information on women in society and oral traditions.

Inuit: Living with nature

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

The Hopi Tribe: Never disappears

The famous August Snake Dance. Photo via: Legends of America

Before the Europeans, there used to be communities living near each other, creating their own way of life. The Hopi is one of them. I am very interested in the Hopi's life before contact with the Europeans. To really know about a society, you must dig deep into the way they work and live together. That is why my project emphasizes on the Hopi everyday life and things that have big impacts on them. With the picture, I tried to find the one that can reflect a lot about the Hopi. The picture I chose not only shows the traditional dance of the Hopi but also the costumes and houses. With the topics, I chose to delve into the following: who they were, how they organized their community, how they got over or suffered from diseases, their gender roles and their language. After some research, I realized how sophisticated the Hopi used to be. They were a large interdependent community with their own culture and religion. In fact, they still exist today with a smaller population. – it was the first thing that captured me when I started researching. It is extraordinary that their beautiful culture is still kept today. In summary, I believe that the Hopi tribe had never disappeared: they still exist in the legacies they passed down to their successors.