It's Indigenous People Day

What do you know about Native Americans? They could also be called 'indigenous people' meaning, those who originate in a particular place. Theirs is a rich culture that has, through their creativity, endured for thousands of years.


Here are the tribes of the United States:


http://www.native-languages.org/states.htm

Fast facts:

• It is thought that people living in Siberia migrated to what is now North America using a land bridge, over 11,000 years ago. However, more research suggests otherwise: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0903_030903_bajaskull.html
• Native Americans are not only from Northern Europe, however: DNA testing has shown that they also came from the Middle East and Asia over a period of thousands of years. Read more about this:  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131120-science-native-american-people-migration-siberia-genetics/

Here are migration patterns for the world as we know it today. Keep in mind that the continents were not always separated as they are now:

• The population of Native Americans was once a large and thriving number. Currently, only 1.4% of people living in the U.S. (4.5 Million) are Native Americans.
• When settlers came to North America and brought horses, they also brought diseases such as chicken pox and measles, which the Native Americans had never been exposed to and had no immunity for. This caused the death of a great number of people.
• Originally the two tribes that lived in what is now Minnesota, were the Sioux (Soo) and Ojibwe (Oh Jib Way) 'Chippewa' is another term for Ojibwe (a mispronunciation, perhaps?)
• Currently, there are 567 tribes of Native Americans in the United States.

Tools used by Native Americans: What do you think these might have been used for?

For an extensive education about Native Americans, visit the History Channel's article: There are videos and explanation of the migration, and many Native American cultures:  http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/native-american-cultures


Anton Treuer's life work is to preserve culture and especially language for his tribe: most languages of Native Americans were never written down, so the words need to be passed down from generation to generation. His website: http://antontreuer.com/about/ He is a professor at Bemidji State. Here's a video: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=anton+treuer&&view=detail&mid=9A6557E999E8DA705B299A6557E999E8DA705B29&&FORM=VDRVRV


Artistry is a rich part of Native American culture: Making items that are not only functional but beautiful and symbolic. Here are some baskets carefully woven with designs on them:

And a bowl with a complex design:

The amount of work it took to create this beautiful costume (and shoes!!!) is really amazing:

Native Americans have made music for centuries. Did you know they played not only drums and flutes, but also made guitars, harps, fiddles, bells, and rattles?


Here is a group of ornately carved Native American flutes: Notice the bird heads and animals carved on each:

Some drums made by Native Americans:

Interesting facts about powwow drums:
Among Native Americans, ceremonial drums are treated with great care and respect. North American powwow drums are placed on a blanket or stand during performance and are covered when not in use. They are smudged with tobacco in a special sunrise ceremony before the public powwow events, and neither drugs nor alcohol may be used near the drums. In addition, paraphernalia such as drumsticks, stands, or medicine bags may belong to a particular drum. The Ojibwa dance drum is regarded as a living being, and great care is taken with its construction and decoration. For the Mapuche, the life of a kultrún comes to an end with the death of its owner, and it is either buried with her or destroyed. The sound of the drum conveys symbolic meaning for many Native Americans. A rapid drumbeat in certain songs from the Northwest Coast signifies the transformation of a Thunderbird into a human state.      -from Britannica.com

Listen to some Native American Music:  https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=native+american++music&&view=detail&mid=DFD34616F385260362E3DFD34616F385260362E3&FORM=VRDGAR


Take a little time to learn about the people who were here first. After all...