Native Americans Essay

Squanto:  ·Was sold into slavery  ·Wampanoag  ·Translator, not a cheif  ·Was a schemer  ·Friendy towards europeans/whites  ·Joined the pilgram community  ·A Patuxet  ·Belonged to the Wampanoag tribe  ·Dies in his late 30s Pwwhatan:  ·Chief  ·Wanted what was best for his tribe  ·Did not like europeans/whites  ·Agressive  ·Stood his ground  ·Died in his late 70s Similarities:  ·Both were Native Americans Compare and Contrast Chart: Native American Tribes Tribe #1: Kickapoo Government: All Kickapoo followed the traditional division of labor, placing hunting activities and protection of the village or camp in the charge of men who also cleared new feilds for planting. Women were mainly responsible for gathering wild plant foods, planting and tending crops, building houses, cooking, and child care. On large hunting campaigns, everyone helped, the women processed the meat and later the hides of the animals that the men killed. Economy: Practiced hunting and gathering, mainly deer and bison as well as other game. Wild plants and nuts were supplemented by the maize, beans, and pumpkins they planted in the spring. The Kickapoo became involved in the fur trade and later delt with other goods as well, after comming in contact with the Europeans. The Kickapoo were ultimately becoming known as shrewd traders. Religion: Belief in spirit messengers. The supreme deity is Kisiihiat, who created the world and resides in the sky. Culture: The culture hero, Wiaaka, the son of Kisiihiat, who created the Indian world and taught the Kickapoo to build their houses, which are vital elements to the Kickapoo religion. Religious practice is organized around sacred bundles for clans and herbal societies. Tribe #2: Wampanoag Government: The Wampanoag had a matrilineal system, in which women controlled property and hereditary ststus was passed though the maternal line. Female elders approved selection of chiefs or sachems, although males had most of the political roles for relations between tribes and warfare. The Wampanoag were organized into a confederation, where head sachem/political leader presided over a number of other sachems. Economy: The Wampanoag had a traditional economy based on fishing and agriculture. Religion: The Wampanoag’s religion was called Spiritualism. They thanked Mother Earth, animals, plants, birds, fish, and all living things for the gifts they gave to the Wampanoag. Women were the spiritual leaders of their households. One of the religious holidays the Wampanoag celebrated was the Wampanoag New Year. This celebration took place in the spring. The Wampanoag also prayed in the spring when they planted seeds. Culture: The Wampanoag originally spoke a dialect of the Massachusett-Wampanoag language, which belongs to the Algonquian language family.