American Indians

1. American Indians Sioux, Navajo, and Hopi

2. Warm Up 3/12 • Write the word DIVERSITY in a vertical line on your warm up sheet. • Write a word or phrase relating to westward expansion for each letter. Be creative!

3. Plains Indians: Culture • Sioux Indians, meaning “little snakes” • Many tribes within the Sioux, including Lakota and Oglala • Nomadic lifestyle on the Plains • Buffalo

5. Treaty of fort laramie, 1868 Treaty signed between Plains Indians and the US government guaranteeing Indians certain lands -The Lakota Sioux received ownership of the Black Hills and hunting rights nearby The US also expressed its desire to “civilize” the Sioux and introduce them to American education and lifestyles

6. Battle of Little BigHorn, 1876 • Also known as “Custer’s Last Stand” • Chief Sitting Bull led the Sioux against General George A. Custer and his troops • Sioux kill Custer and all of his men when they tried to attack

7. Massacre at wounded knee • December 29, 1890: US troops surrounded a group of Lakota with the goal of forcibly removing them to Nebraska • Someone fired a shot, triggering chaos • By the time the fire ceased, more than 150 Sioux died, including men, women, and children. 25 American soldiers also died.

8. Black elk speaks • Take a few minutes to read the passage from Black Elk Speaks, a memoir written by a Lakota Sioux medicine man and interpreted by John Neihardt • Account of Wounded Knee

9. Questions when you’ve finished…. • Why does Black Elk believe the massacre happened? • Describe Black Elk’s religion. • How could Black Elk be biased?

10. Reservations • As railroads expanded westward, the companies systematically exterminated buffalo herds and therefore severely diminished the food supply for Plains Indians • Indians were forced onto reservations and into a farm-based lifestbecame dependent on payments from the government

11. Dawes act, 1887 • Written by Sen. Henry Dawes • Intended to “civilize” Native Americans • Divided reservation land up among individuals and families; extended US law to the Indians • Aims to make Indians full American citizens

12. Assimilation policy Assimilate: Absorb and integrate (people, ideas or culture) into a wider society or culture Growing public support to set cultural standards for the country through education Native American boarding schools -result: Children feel torn between 2 cultures “Americanization” movement Goal: to move past Indian Wars and integrate Indians into mainstream society. Americans believed they were doing a good thing!!!

15. closer • Give 3 examples of someone assimilating to a new situation or culture

16. Yá'át'ééh

17. American Indians of the southwest Navajo and hopi

18. NAVAJO NATION: Diné • Largest tribe in the US • Settled in the Southwest circa 1400 BCE

19. Navajo long walk • 1864: US government forces 9,000 Navajo east from Arizona to Fort Sumner, New Mexico • They were interned at Bosque Redondo • The US failed to provide enough food and supplies for them and they were forced to farm rather than herd sheep; winters were tough • Conflict with neighboring tribes like the Apache • Taken from their native lands

20. Kit carson and canyon de chelly • Kit Carson was a frontiersman famous for fighting Indians • Ordered by a superior to force the Navajo to surrender • « Scorched Earth » policy in Canyon de Chelly, sacred residence of many Navajo • Facing starvation, many Navajo surrendered to the government. Some escaped to the Grand Canyon

22. Outcome of the Long Walk • 1868: Realizing Bosque Redondo was a disaster, the government allowed the Navajo to return to their ancestral lands and created a reservation (Treaty of Bosque Redondo • In return, the Navajo agreed to raiding restrictions and compulsory education for children • One of the few instances of the US government allowing Native Americans to live on their ancestral lands!

23. NAVAJO CODE TALKERS • NBC Learn video honoring the Code Talkers and explaining their importance in winning World War II

24. Navajo culture and religion • Based largely on sheep and herding • Importance of the Number 4 (four sacred mountains) • Emphasis on prayer and being in communication with spirits and nature • Matrilineal society • Introducing oneself and one’s four clans • Examples: Towering House People, Corn People, Coyote Spring People

25. Weaving

27. What do these styles of dress say about the Navajo Reservation today? Navajo Dress for ceremonial purposes Ravis henry, park ranger

28. Hopi culture and religion • Reservation located within the Navajo reservation  a source of tension • Believe in multiple spirits • Long, complicated rituals • Dependent on corn (dry farming) • Reciprocal culture

29. KIVAS

30. KACHINAS

31. Ceremonial dances • Buffalo Dance: meant to bring rain and snow. Held in late January http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW10cp223So

32. Impact of assimilation policy on the hopi • Hostility to « bahana », or outsiders • Helen Sekaquaptewa, Me and Mine

33. Contemporary issues for native Americans • Read the assigned article • Discuss the following questions with your group. Be prepared to share with the class. • Summarize the article. What is the main issue, who is involved, and what is the position that the native group is taking? • What does this article tell you about life on a reservation in the Southwest?

34. Tragedy on Pine Ridge • NBC Learn video discussing alcoholism among the Sioux in modern times

35. CLOSER 3/12 • What 3 questions would you ask a member of either the Navajo or Hopi tribe today?