The First Californians
According to many scientists, how did early people travel from Asia to North America?
Early people traveled from Asia to North American by crossing a land bridge.
What were the Pomo tribe best known for?
The were known for their baskets.
This word means, a system for deciding what is best for a group of people.
Government is a system for deciding what is best for a group of people.
This word means to work at one kind of job and learn to do it well.
Most California tribes came to have their own, ___________, or ways of speaking, acting and dressing.
Most California tribes came to have their own culture.
Why did early visitors to North America travel from place to place?
Early North American visitors traveled placed to place to follow and hunt herds of animals.
What is the word that means to exchange, buy, or sell goods?
What natural resource did the Chumash have that many other tribes did not?
The Chumash had tar.
What is a granary?
A granary is a specialized building for storing extra food, for the Maidu people it stored acorns.
Archaeologists have learned about early Indians from_____________, or object from the past.
Archaeologists have learned about early Indians from artifacts.
When did early people first reach California?
Early people first reached California more than 13,000 years ago.
What natural resources were important to the Indians of the northern Coastal Region?
Trees and rivers were important resources to the Indians of the northern Coastal Region.
True or false?
There was only one leader for all Chumash villages.
False. Each Chumash village had its own leader.
What did the Maidu believe would help them have a bigger acorn harvest?
The Maidu believed that singing a special song, would help them have a bigger acorn harvest.
What were strings of shells used for?
They were used for trade.
What does it mean to have surplus of something?
Surplus means to have extra food.
What was the most important food for the Yurok?
Salmon was the most important food for the Yurok.
What were the four main components, or pieces, of a Chumash Village?
1. several houses
2. a place for storing food
3. a sweat lodge
4. a public area for ceremonies
Why were games an important part of life for the Miwok and other California tribes?
Games taught the children skills that they needed.
Chumash leaders heald meetings, which helped them cooperate.
Possible answers:
To explain natural events, like a storm
To explain the belief that their ancestors had not traveled across a land bridge, but that they had always lived in the Americas
To teach children proper behavior
To teach children life skills they need to survive, like hunting
Why did the Pomo prune oak and pine trees?
They pruned the trees, so that the trees would produce more acorns and pine nuts.
Why did the Luiseno and Kumeyaay hold ceremonies before hunting or harvesting?
These tribes believed that ceremonies were a way to give thanks and to keep themselves in harmony with nature, each other, and their ancestors.
How did the Yokut chiefs spread news or share announcements?
The Yokut Chiefs used criers, or spokespeople, who made announcements for them.
How did early people in North America adapt their ways of life when the larger animals died?
The early people in North America began hunting smaller animals, birds, and fish. They also ate more plants.