A curriculum guide to learning about American Indians

94 Pages·1992·3.9 MB·English

by  Montana. Office of Public Instruction

s 37X OOS
A CURRICULUM GUIDE
TO
LEARNING ABOUT
AMERICAN INDIANS
Distributedby:NancyKeenan,Superintendent
OfficeofPublicInstruction
StateCapitol
Helena,Montana 59620
t.
INTRODUCTION
CONTRIBUTIONSOFTHEINDIANSOFTHEAMERICAS
Thefollowingpagesincludeacollectionofinformationandsuggestionswhichareintended
tobeofusetotheteacherinplanninganIndianunitorNativeAmericanDayactivities.
Itisnotaspecificguidenorisitallinclusive. Itismerelyintendedtoprovidetheteacher
withinformationandsuggestedactivitiestoassistandencourageplanning. Thiscollection
isnotinfinalform,therefore, suggestions andadditions arewelcomed. Informationis
intendedtoinformandstimulateclassdiscussion. Theusermustalsobecautiousasnotto
infer that all Indian people are the same or share the same culture (i.e., Indian sign
language,foods,clothing,etc.). Theyneedtorefertospecifictribesorcultureareas,asnot
tomisleadorperpetuatemisconceptionsabouttheNativeAmerican.
Asectionofsuggestedactivitiesinthesubjectareasofsocialstudies,science,mathematics,
language arts, art, home economics, music and physical education is included. The
informationisnotalessonplan,butsuggeststopicsthatmaybeusedintheclassroom. The
teachermaythenseekoutindividualswithexpertisetohelpplanactivities.
Ifthereisconcernaboutcommunityacceptanceofaparticularactivity,theteachermay
wanttocontactthelocaltribalcouncilorIndianeducationprogramforclarification.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction
Contributions 1
ForClassroomDiscussion 10
SubjectAreasandClassroomActivities 18
BibliographyandResources 34
HistoricalChronology 58
MapsandMiscellaneous 70

CONTRIBUTIONS

CONTRIBUTIONSOFTHEINDIANSOFTHEAMERICAS
Manystudents,aswellasadults,donotknowofthemanycontributionsmadebytheIndians
oftheAmericastotheAmericanwayoflife. Thecontributionscoverawidespectrumof
Americanculture. Itismostimportantthatchildrenbemadeawareofsuchinformation,
notonlytoerasegeneralizationsandstereotypes,butalsotomakethemmoreawareofthe
importanceoftheAmericanIndianinhistoricalandcontemporaryAmerica.
FOODS Products
Corn Greenpeppers Canoe
Hominy Redpeppers Toboggan
Cornstarch WaterCress Moccasins
White&Yellowcommeal Serviceberries Tipi
Acornflour Wildapricots Kayak
Cattailrootflour Watermelon FringedBuckskin
Popcorn Cantaloupe Jacket
WildRice Cucumbers CoonskinCap
Beans(14varieties) Cassava(tapioca) Snowshoes
Squash Sassafrastea Mukluks
Pumpkins Mintflavorings Lacrosse
Cranberries Blueberries CradleBoards
Maplesugarandsyrup Wildblackberries (babycarriers)
Potatoes(whiteand Cranberries Tomahawk
sweet) Currants Tobacco
Turkeys Dewberries Cigars
Clambakes Gooseberries Pipesmoking
Birchbeer Huckleberries Cotton-longstrand
Pemmican Wildraspberries Rubber
Jerky Leeks Quinine
Venison Yams Cocaine (medicinal
Squab Nuts(severalvarieties) purposes)
Porcupine Bostonbakedbeans Hammock
Rabbit Vanilla Travios
Chocolate(Cacao) Pecans
Chewinggum(Chicle) Sunflowerseeds
Wildgrapes Wildstrawberries
Asparagus Puffballs
Chicory Nutoils
DandelionGreens Seafood(severalkinds)
Greenbeans Mincemeat
Greenpeas Rootbeer
Lambsquarters Avocados
Milkweedgreens Succotash
Mustardgreens
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STATENAMES
Alabama-Fromalibamu,thenameofaMuskogeantribemeaning"thosewhocleartheland
foragriculturalpurposes."
Arizona-FromPapagoword,Airzonac,whichprobablymeans"smallsprings."
Arkansas-FromAkansea,atribewhosenamemeans"downstreampeople."
Connecticut-Meaning,"riverwhosewaterisdrivenbytidesorwinds."
Dakota-(NorthandSouth)TribalnameoftheSiouxmeaning"Allies."
Idaho-Fromawordsaidtomean"gemofthemountains."
Illinois-Meaning"men,"thenameofaconfederacyofAlgonquintribes.
Iowa-Thenameofatribemeaning"SleepyOnes."
Kentucky-Saidtobederivedfromtheword"Kenta"meaning"field"or"meadow."
Massachusetts-NameofanAlgonquintribemeaning"AtorabouttheGreatHill."
Michigan-FromtheIndianword"Michigamea"meaning"greatwater."
Minnesota-ADakotawordmeaning"Whitishorskytintedwater."
Mississippi-Algonquinword "misi"meaning"great"and"sipi"meaning"water."
Missouri-Fromthenameofatribemeaning"greatMuddy,"whichreferstotheriver.
Nebraska-FromoldOtowordmeaning"BroadWater."
NewMexico-NameofanAztecgod,Meritili.
Ohio-Iroquoiswordmeaning,"BeautifulRiver."
Oklahoma-AChoctawwordmeaning,"RedPeople."
Tennessee-ThenameofaCherokeesettlement,themeaningunknown.
Texas-Thenameofagroupoftribesmeaning,"FriendsorAllies."
Utah-FromthetribalnameUte,meaningunknown.
Wisconsin-ThenameofagroupoftribeslivingontheWisconsinRiver.
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