Vocab
Adapt
To adapt is to change one's way of life to fit the land and its resources.
What tools did the Indians of the Northwest area use for hunting, and what did they hunt?
Indians of the Northwest area used tools such as nets and traps to catch salmon.
What kind of houses did the Indians of the Central region build?
The Indians of the Central region built round houses out of poles that they covered with reeds or bark. Others made cone-shaped houses of bark slabs leaned against a center post.
How did the Chumash Indians of the Southern area use the ocean's resources?
In the Southern area, the Chumash Indians used the ocean's resources for hunting and trading. They built canoes out of wooden planks to hunt and fish at sea. They also made beads out of clamshells as a form of money to buy resources from other groups.
What were the characteristics of the Northwest area?
The Northwest area's characteristics included forests and rivers, with a rainy but mild climate. Along the coast, there are marshes filled with reeds, and tall trees blanket the hills near the sea. Further inland, there are grassy meadows.
Myth
A myth is a story that helps to explain the beliefs and history of a people.
How did the Northwest Indians use trees?
The Indians of the Northwest region used trees to build homes with wood planks, and they used the bark from the trees to make waterproof capes. They also hollowed out logs to make ocean-going canoes, which could carry lots of fish.
What kind of diets did the Indians of the Central region have?
The Indians of the Central region had different diets based on where they lived. Along the coast, the Ohlone and Miwok Indians gathered and ate shellfish, while the Yokuts in the Central Valley hunted in the nearby mountains and fishedi in the nearby rivers.
What kind of homes did Indians of the Southern area build?
Indians of the Southern area built domed houses made of willow sticks and reeds.
What were the characteristics of the Northeast area?
The characteristics of the Northeast area included a dry plateau, where pine and sagebrush are common. There are a few large rivers, but in places, the rivers widen to form marshes and shallow lakes. Summers are hotter and the winters are colder on the plateau than near the coast.
Plateau
A plateau is a high, flat landform that rises steeply from the land around it.
How did the Northwest Indians show their wealth?
The Indians of the Northwest used shells as money. They flaunted their wealth by wearing strings of rare shells.
What did women of the Central Indian tribes do with acorns?
The women of the Central Indian tribes ground up acorns and poured hot water on them to get rid of the bitter taste. Then, they stored the acorn flour, or meal, in airtight baskets. They cooked it year round in cooking baskets, and made stews and other dishes.
What kind of homes did the Mojave Indians of the Colorado River area build?
The Mojave Indians of the Colorado River area built summer and winter homes. Their summer homes were brush shelters with open sides. Their winter homes had four walls and a sloped roof. They plastered the walls with a thick coating of mud and grass, which kept the heat in and the cold out.
What were the characteristics of the Central area?
The characteristics of the Central area included rolling hills and the long, flat Central Valley. There are rivers, marshes, and a few lakes. The climate is mild with rainy winters and dry summers. Oak trees and grasses once covered the area.
Nomad
A nomad is a person who moves from place to place in search of food.
How were the roles of men and women in the Northeast Indian tribes different?
In the Northeast Indian tribes, men would hunt with bows and arrows to kill deer and elk, as well as trap ducks or rabbits in large nets. Women gathered and prepared berries, nuts, and seeds to eat, and used reeds and grasses to make baskets, trays, and other useful items.
What resource was common in the Great Basin area and valuable for trading?
In the Great Basin area, obsidian was a common resource that was valuable for trading. The Mono Indians made knives and arrowheads with obsidian, and traded them to other tribes across the Sierras.
How was the Mojave Indian culture connected to dreams?
The Mojave Indian culture is deeply rooted in dreams because they believed that their stories and myths came to their wise men and women in dreams.
What are the characteristics of the Great Basin area?
The characteristics of the Great Basin area included hot and dry summers, but very cold winters. The mountain slopes supported pine trees and wild grasses.
Shaman
A shaman is someone believed to be in contact with the spirit world.
What was special about the Modoc Indians of the Northeast region?
The Modoc Indians of the Northeast were known to be expert weavers, and made tightly woven baskets that were used to cook soups and stews.
What was special about the lifestyle of the Indians of the Great Basin region?
The lifestyle of the Indians of the Great Basin region was special because they were nomads who moved often in search of food.
What was special about how the Mojave and Yuma Indians of the Colorado River area lived?
The Mojave and Yuma Indians of the Colorado River area were special because they lived by farming. After a flood, they used digging sticks to plant crops in the damp soil to grow food such as corn, beans, and squash.
What were the characteristics of the Southern area?
The characteristics of the Southern area included beaches and rocky bluffs along the coast, but hills, valleys, and deserts inland. Oak trees, grasses, and brush grow in the hills. Many streambeds in this area contain clay. Rain falls in the winter, but streams often dry up during the long, hot summers.