Native American Assignment
3.2 Students describe the American Indian nations in their local region long ago and in the recent past. 1. Describe national identities, religious beliefs, customs, and various folklore traditions. 2. Discuss the ways in which physical geography, including climate, influenced how the local Indian nations adapted to their natural environment (e.g., how they obtained food, clothing, tools). 3. Describe the economy and systems of government, particularly those with tribal constitutions, and their relationship to federal and state governments. 4. Discuss the interaction of new settlers with the already established Indians of the region.
Government/Economy
1. What kind of government does your tribe have?
2. Do they use money or do they trade for things?
3. Do they have a tribal constitution?
4. Who is their leader?
5. What is their relationship with the Federal and State governments throughout history and today?
Culture
1. What are their religious beliefs?
2. Describe their dances, songs, storytelling.
3. What are their holidays?
4. Describe their artwork.
5. Do they have a creation myth?
Environment
1. What kind of biome do they live in?
2. What was the climate and how did it affect how they lived?
3. How did they obtain food?
4. Describe their clothing and how they made it.
5. What kind of tools and weapons did they use and how were they made?
6. What are their houses like?
Interaction with Others
1. What was their relationship with the Spanish and other European settlers?
2. How did the interaction with settlers affect their religion and way of life?
3. Were there treaties/promises made? Were they broken or kept?
4. How did the interaction affect the health of the natives?
5. What is the tribe's interaction like today?
Resources
http://www.native-languages.org/california.htm