Native Americans

1. Native Americans

2. Where could they have come from?

3. Where did the early Native Americans come from? Bering Land Bridge (Beringia) Kenniwick Man Thor Hyerdahl: Ra I & Ra II Polynesians

4. Bering Land Bridge or Beringia

5. Why is he important? • 9,300 years old • Features are not Indian • Features are not Asian • Features ARE Caucasian • Spear wound in hip • Found in….. Kenniwick Man

8. Thor Hyerdahl

9. RA I

10. RA II

11. North America Migrations Bering Land Bridge Vikings Trans-Atlantic: Boats Asian and/or Caucasians Trans-Pacific: Boats Trans-Atlantic: Boats Polynesians Trans-Pacific: Boats

12. Colonialism • During the 1600s European powers began asserting themselves in North America. • Who were the main colonizers of North America? England, Spain and France • Native Americans were seen as “savages” by many Europeans. • Generally, Europeans saw little value in Native American traditions because they were considered to be inferior. • What were the two main reasons for the decimation of Native Americans? Disease and the loss of the buffalo.

13. Pre-Colonial North America • There were an estimated 10 million Native Americans living in what is now the US when the Europeans arrived. • Today, there are about 2.5 million Native Americans living in the US. • Although African Americans were allowed to vote in 1870…Native Americans didn’t get that right until 1924. • Tribes living on reservations are “sovereign” nations and are not subjected to obey state laws.

14. Pre-Colonial North America

15. And then……. • It’s a long story, but Native American culture faded as the newcomers gained control of the continent. • The United States government didn’t know what to do with their “Indians.” • Eventually all Native Americans were assimilated into white culture or placed on reservations and treated like 3rd class people.

16. Indian Lands - Lost

18. Music

19. Powwow

23. Stick Game