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Indians
A colourful look at many of he Indian tribes of America with details of habitat, family life, hunting habits, transport, religion, pastimes, clothing, language and transport and trading.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
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May 4, 2023
AS a boy playing cowboys and Indians I only knew of such Indian tribes as Sioux, Comanche, Apache, Cherokee and perhaps a few others but I had no idea that there were over 350 Indian tribes in North America alone. Each tribe had its own territory across the whole of America and customs and language differed from one tribe to another.
Living conditions varied as well with the Iroquois in the north east living in long barn-like homes with no windows as light was through smoke-holes and door openings. In addition several families shared one longhouse. On the north west Pacific Coast the Northwest Indians were fishermen who built large family houses made of wooden planks made from the wood of the cedar trees; animal pictures were painted on the front of their houses and they were surrounded by totem poles erected by one of the chiefs to honour his ancestors.
In the south west the Hopi, Zuni and Acoma Indians, who were farmers, built adobe homes made of clay mixed with grass that was moulded into bricks; these houses outlasted most others because of the dry climate. And the Ponca, Pawnee, the Missouri, Omaha and Kansa farmers built earth lodges that were dug a few feet into the ground, erected with a round framework of posts and poles and covered with thatch and sod. These homes were cool in summer and warm in winter.
Other variations were the Navajo lived in logans, a framework of logs which they covered with sod for warmth; the plains and Plateau Indians such as the Crow, Sioux, Flathead Shoshone lived in tipis made of carefully tanned buffalo skins stretched over a a set of tall, pine poles; around the Great Lakes and the far north east, the Chippewa, Cree and Micmac built tipi like homes but covered them with sheets of elm and birch bark and these were the homes that were called wigwams.
Family life and traditions differed greatly but the overall Indian philosophy was to look after their children with the mother nursing them and the father taking charge of sons when they reached five or six years of age. The father then taught the boys all the necessary attributes so as to succeed in life such as hunting, trapping, fishing, making weapons and tools and farming. The crafting of various articles, particularly clothing, was also taught and the Navajo women became outstanding weavers.
Amazingly the languages of the Indian numbered about 300, each being distinct and different and when different tribes met, sign language was often the form of communication. As for religion, all Indians were religious and spent considerable time in religious ceremonies and all believed in many gods, in good and evil spirits and myths and legends.
Well illustrated, this little book is a mine of information and very readable with a 'Quiz-Me' section at the end.
Living conditions varied as well with the Iroquois in the north east living in long barn-like homes with no windows as light was through smoke-holes and door openings. In addition several families shared one longhouse. On the north west Pacific Coast the Northwest Indians were fishermen who built large family houses made of wooden planks made from the wood of the cedar trees; animal pictures were painted on the front of their houses and they were surrounded by totem poles erected by one of the chiefs to honour his ancestors.
In the south west the Hopi, Zuni and Acoma Indians, who were farmers, built adobe homes made of clay mixed with grass that was moulded into bricks; these houses outlasted most others because of the dry climate. And the Ponca, Pawnee, the Missouri, Omaha and Kansa farmers built earth lodges that were dug a few feet into the ground, erected with a round framework of posts and poles and covered with thatch and sod. These homes were cool in summer and warm in winter.
Other variations were the Navajo lived in logans, a framework of logs which they covered with sod for warmth; the plains and Plateau Indians such as the Crow, Sioux, Flathead Shoshone lived in tipis made of carefully tanned buffalo skins stretched over a a set of tall, pine poles; around the Great Lakes and the far north east, the Chippewa, Cree and Micmac built tipi like homes but covered them with sheets of elm and birch bark and these were the homes that were called wigwams.
Family life and traditions differed greatly but the overall Indian philosophy was to look after their children with the mother nursing them and the father taking charge of sons when they reached five or six years of age. The father then taught the boys all the necessary attributes so as to succeed in life such as hunting, trapping, fishing, making weapons and tools and farming. The crafting of various articles, particularly clothing, was also taught and the Navajo women became outstanding weavers.
Amazingly the languages of the Indian numbered about 300, each being distinct and different and when different tribes met, sign language was often the form of communication. As for religion, all Indians were religious and spent considerable time in religious ceremonies and all believed in many gods, in good and evil spirits and myths and legends.
Well illustrated, this little book is a mine of information and very readable with a 'Quiz-Me' section at the end.
Displaying 1 of 1 review