Eastern Woodland Eastern Woodland Indians TribesIndians Tribes

LocationLocation

These tribes lived east of the These tribes lived east of the Plains in the forest areas along the Plains in the forest areas along the eastern part of the United States. eastern part of the United States. They lived there long before the They lived there long before the Europeans came to this continent. Europeans came to this continent. The people of these tribes found The people of these tribes found everything they needed to live in everything they needed to live in the forest.the forest.

Map of the area the Eastern Woodland Indians lived.

ClothingClothing

Their clothing was made mostly Their clothing was made mostly from hides of animals. In the from hides of animals. In the winter, the men wore shirts, winter, the men wore shirts, leggings, and moccasins made of leggings, and moccasins made of buckskinbuckskin. Buckskin is clothing . Buckskin is clothing made from the skins of animals, made from the skins of animals, mainly deer. The women wore mainly deer. The women wore skirts they had woven from the wild skirts they had woven from the wild grasses, covered with furs, with grasses, covered with furs, with leggings underneath.. leggings underneath..

ClothingClothing

In the summer, the men wore In the summer, the men wore a breechclotha breechcloth, a short piece , a short piece of buckskin that hung from of buckskin that hung from the front to the back of the the front to the back of the Indian. The women wore Indian. The women wore their grass dresses, and the their grass dresses, and the children wore nothing at all.children wore nothing at all.

This is a picture of the traditional dress of men in many of the Eastern Woodland tribes.

Dyed quills decorated Dyed quills decorated moccasins in red, blue moccasins in red, blue and violet. These are and violet. These are Seneca quilled moccasins Seneca quilled moccasins

Wampum Wampum Wampum belts and necklaces were Wampum belts and necklaces were

made from wampum beads. These made from wampum beads. These beads were actually white and purple beads were actually white and purple shells. Wampum was used as money shells. Wampum was used as money between white man and Indians. between white man and Indians. Wampum belts were used as a form of Wampum belts were used as a form of communication between Indian tribes. communication between Indian tribes. Wampum belts would be made into Wampum belts would be made into pictures showing the reason it was pictures showing the reason it was made. All Indian messengers carried made. All Indian messengers carried wampum belts when going to other wampum belts when going to other tribes tribes

These are some of the types of shells used in the wampum belts created from around 200 AD to colonial times.

The Great Chain, or Covenant Belt, is generally thought to be a belt presented by the U.S. government to the Iroquois in 1794 at the Pickering Treaty at Canandaigua, N.Y. Adapted from The Native Americans. Edited by B. & I. Ballantine. 1993

This is a sample of a wampum belt.

The human figures, each linked by a wampum belt, form a chain of friendship, representing the alliance between the thirteen states and the Iroquoian confederacy.

Adapted from The Native Americans

. Edited by B. & I. Ballantine. 1993

The Huron Wampum Belt The Huron Wampum Belt commemorates the 1683 agreement commemorates the 1683 agreement

between the Herons and Jesuit between the Herons and Jesuit missionaries for the construction of missionaries for the construction of the first wooden church on Huron the first wooden church on Huron

Lands.Lands. Adapted from Adapted from The Native AmericansThe Native Americans. Edited by B. & I. Ballantine. 1993.. Edited by B. & I. Ballantine. 1993.

How to make dyesHow to make dyes

The Eastern Woodland Indians The Eastern Woodland Indians used many plants to create dyes to used many plants to create dyes to dye fibers, quills, and other items dye fibers, quills, and other items used to decorate their clothing used to decorate their clothing and household goods.and household goods.

Let’s look at some of the plants Let’s look at some of the plants used.used.

YELLOWYELLOW Sunflower, Gold thread, Cone flower petals with Sunflower, Gold thread, Cone flower petals with decayed oak bark or cattail root, Black willow decayed oak bark or cattail root, Black willow roots, Fox moss , Yellow or curled dock root, roots, Fox moss , Yellow or curled dock root, Cottonwood, Lichen , Oregon Grape, Osage Cottonwood, Lichen , Oregon Grape, Osage orange wood orange wood RED RED Choke cherry or wild plum, Tamarack bark, Choke cherry or wild plum, Tamarack bark, Spruce cones, Sumac berries, Alder, Hemlock Spruce cones, Sumac berries, Alder, Hemlock inner bark, Poke berry, Bloodroot, Sassafras, inner bark, Poke berry, Bloodroot, Sassafras, Red Bedstraw, Buffalo-berry, Squaw current, Red Bedstraw, Buffalo-berry, Squaw current, Red Osier Dogwood, Red cedar. Red Osier Dogwood, Red cedar.

BLACK BLACK Wild grape Maples, Burr oak, Elderberries, Hazel Wild grape Maples, Burr oak, Elderberries, Hazel nut bark combined with powdered brown stone nut bark combined with powdered brown stone BROWNBROWN Hickory or Walnuts gathered green and turned Hickory or Walnuts gathered green and turned black, Rushes black, Rushes PURPLEPURPLE Blueberries, Blackberries, Elderberries, Northern Blueberries, Blackberries, Elderberries, Northern dog whelk, White maple. dog whelk, White maple. BLUE BLUE Larkspur, Beech, Wire Birch, Indigo. Larkspur, Beech, Wire Birch, Indigo. GREEN GREEN Prince's Pine, Moosewood, Evergreen, Copper mixed Prince's Pine, Moosewood, Evergreen, Copper mixed with ammonia (urine).with ammonia (urine).

FoodFood Many of the Eastern Woodland tribes Many of the Eastern Woodland tribes

hunted small game such as deer, rabbit, hunted small game such as deer, rabbit, and bear. Since their villages were and bear. Since their villages were usually near the ocean, streams, or lakes, usually near the ocean, streams, or lakes, they also fished using spears and nets. they also fished using spears and nets. Berries, nuts, and wild plants were Berries, nuts, and wild plants were important forms of food. Many of these important forms of food. Many of these tribes were considered to be excellent tribes were considered to be excellent farmers. They had large farms which farmers. They had large farms which grew corn, beans, and squash. grew corn, beans, and squash.

FoodFood

Corn, beans, and squash were the Corn, beans, and squash were the most important crops planted. They most important crops planted. They were know as “The Three Sisters” as were know as “The Three Sisters” as they were also grown together. they were also grown together.

ShelterShelter

The Iroquois Indians lived in wigwams and longhouses.

Wigwams were made by bending young trees to form the round shape of the home. Over this shape pieces of tree bark were overlapped to protect the Indians from bad weather.

Over the bark a layer of thatch, or dried grass, was added. A small hole in the top allowed smoke from the fires to escape. Beds were matting covered with animal skin.

Longhouses were Longhouses were long rectangular long rectangular homes. homes. Longhouses were Longhouses were made by building made by building a frame from a frame from saplingsaplingss, or , or young trees.young trees.

They were then covered with bark sewn together. There was a long hallway with rooms on both sides.

The Iroquois village consisted of two or more longhouses. In the early years the longhouses were built near streams.

Later they were built on hilltops for protection from invading tribes. Around the village great wooden palisades with watch towers were built. The village was moved every 10 to 15 years because crops no longer grew well.

Sleeping platforms, covered with Sleeping platforms, covered with deerskin, lined each wall. There were deerskin, lined each wall. There were also shelves for storing baskets, pots, also shelves for storing baskets, pots, and pelts. Pelts are the skins of and pelts. Pelts are the skins of animals with the fur attached.animals with the fur attached.

Several families Several families would live in the would live in the long house, but long house, but the families were the families were related to each related to each other.other.

The longhouse was large enough to hold The longhouse was large enough to hold a family of 30 to 60 people. It could be a family of 30 to 60 people. It could be 25 to 150 feet long. Each family had a 25 to 150 feet long. Each family had a space about six by nine feet for a space about six by nine feet for a personal area. The family space was personal area. The family space was separated from the rest on the longhouse separated from the rest on the longhouse by leather curtains. In the personal space by leather curtains. In the personal space a seat was built against the wall.a seat was built against the wall.

A storage pit is a hole that was dug inside the longhouse and used to store food. When a pit was used for storing food, it is thought that it was lined with bark and grass and covered with bark mats for lids

This is a casting of a storage pit found in an old longhouse site.

Clothes and tools were stored Clothes and tools were stored under the seat. The seat was under the seat. The seat was also used as a bed. The bed also used as a bed. The bed was covered with corn husk was covered with corn husk mats and then skins and furs. mats and then skins and furs.

ToolsTools

Snowshoes made winter hunting Snowshoes made winter hunting easier for the Iroquois. They easier for the Iroquois. They traveled up to 50 miles a day traveled up to 50 miles a day wearing the snowshoes in deep wearing the snowshoes in deep snow. The Iroquois also wore snow. The Iroquois also wore snowshoes in ritual dances.snowshoes in ritual dances.

ToolsTools

An ax was created from An ax was created from stones to help with carving, stones to help with carving, splitting, or chipping wood splitting, or chipping wood and stone into the needed and stone into the needed items.items.

ToolsTools

The bannerstone was used as The bannerstone was used as a weight to produce thrust a weight to produce thrust when throwing a spear. It is when throwing a spear. It is believed to have been a believed to have been a prized possession of the prized possession of the chief of the tribe. chief of the tribe.

The perfect hole which was drilled with a hollow reed, sand, and water may have taken up to 3,000 hours to accomplish

ToolsTools

This soapstone This soapstone net sinker, with a net sinker, with a complete complete groove, was groove, was used as a weight used as a weight for either fish for either fish nets or a hand nets or a hand line. line.

ToolsToolsArrow points and spear points were carved from flint stone and attached to the shaft for arrows or spears as needed by the men using them.

The drill points The drill points illustrated are made of illustrated are made of flint, jasper and flint, jasper and quartzite and were used quartzite and were used for drilling a hole in for drilling a hole in other materials. They other materials. They were fastened on a were fastened on a wooden handle for wooden handle for leverage. leverage.

ToolsTools

The antler was used The antler was used for flaking secondary for flaking secondary chips and notching chips and notching the points when the points when making arrowheads making arrowheads and spearheads and spearheads

ToolsTools

This is a rough stone This is a rough stone with an abrasive with an abrasive quality need for the quality need for the smoothing and smoothing and straightening the straightening the shaft for an arrow or shaft for an arrow or spear. spear.

Shaft Smoother

Usually a wooden pestle was used with a Usually a wooden pestle was used with a stone mortar or vice versa to ovoid stone mortar or vice versa to ovoid ground-up sediment being mixed with the ground-up sediment being mixed with the food. food.

The pestle is the The pestle is the pounding implement pounding implement for grinding grain or for grinding grain or herbs.herbs.

The soapstone mortar The soapstone mortar is the container for the is the container for the material being ground.material being ground.

ToolsTools

The bone awl was the The bone awl was the Indian woman's needle for Indian woman's needle for sewing clothing and sewing clothing and pulling strands apart when pulling strands apart when weaving weaving

The gorget was sometimes used as an ornament, to fasten back the hair, as fasteners or buttons on the loose shoulder robes worn during the winter, or as a guard to protect the wrist from the back lash of the bow string.

ToolsTools

This blade made of brown flint with a sharp edge was used for cutting. Found at Three Bridges near Canton.

The scraper is completely flat on one side with sharp cutting edges for scraping fat from the hides of animals or for scaling fish.

ToolsTools

In the spring and early summer, when the sap In the spring and early summer, when the sap was up, bark was peeled from elm trees and was up, bark was peeled from elm trees and bent to make trays and bowls. These items bent to make trays and bowls. These items served every conceivable culinary purpose. served every conceivable culinary purpose.

Elm Bark Tray (left)Elm Bark Tray (left) George Key, Canada, Wolf George Key, Canada, Wolf clan, Seneca, pre-1910 clan, Seneca, pre-1910 Elm Elm Bark Tray (right)Bark Tray (right) Seneca, pre-1910Seneca, pre-1910

ToolsTools

They held cooking ingredients They held cooking ingredients and prepared foods, and made and prepared foods, and made good mixing bowls and dishpans. good mixing bowls and dishpans. On occasion, Iroquois women On occasion, Iroquois women even added hot stones to bring the even added hot stones to bring the liquid in larger bowls to a boil, or liquid in larger bowls to a boil, or they carefully placed the vessels they carefully placed the vessels over the fire to heat water. over the fire to heat water.

These clay beads These clay beads were found at were found at Matt’s Landing Matt’s Landing near Port Elizabeth near Port Elizabeth on the Maurice on the Maurice River River

The copper beads The copper beads were found near were found near Beasley’s Point during Beasley’s Point during the excavation for a the excavation for a housing development. housing development. Deposits of copper Deposits of copper have been found in have been found in northern New Jersey. northern New Jersey.

This clay pipe was found intact on This clay pipe was found intact on the Riggins Farm in New Jersey.the Riggins Farm in New Jersey.

This restored clay pipe was found This restored clay pipe was found on the Riggins Farm. The Indians on the Riggins Farm. The Indians grew tobacco and introduced it to grew tobacco and introduced it to the first settlers. the first settlers.

Pots were made using clay coils, etched with sticks and other things, and fired in coals.

Broken pots could be mended. Broken pots could be mended. Broken sides were drilled, the Broken sides were drilled, the pieces bound together with sinew pieces bound together with sinew and glued with pine pitch. Such and glued with pine pitch. Such mended vessels were then used mended vessels were then used for the storage of dried foods. for the storage of dried foods.

ToolsTools

The men The men created dugout created dugout canoes from canoes from tree logs. They tree logs. They used carving used carving and wood and wood burning to burning to create the create the canoes.canoes.

Special Groups in the TribeSpecial Groups in the Tribe

The False Face Society was a The False Face Society was a group of medicine men who wore group of medicine men who wore frightening masks made of wood. frightening masks made of wood. They were thought to posses They were thought to posses special powers when they put on special powers when they put on their masks.their masks.

An injured or ill An injured or ill

Iroquois Indian would Iroquois Indian would

sometimes ask the False sometimes ask the False

Face Society to drive awayFace Society to drive away

the spirit of the illness or the spirit of the illness or

injury. The False Face Society wore masks carved injury. The False Face Society wore masks carved from wood. After a new member joined the False from wood. After a new member joined the False Face Society he had to make his own mask. Face Society he had to make his own mask.

To make the mask the Iroquois To make the mask the Iroquois walked through the woods until walked through the woods until he found a tree whose spirit he found a tree whose spirit talked to him. After talking to the talked to him. After talking to the tree, the Indian built a fire. He tree, the Indian built a fire. He sprinkled tobacco, then stripped sprinkled tobacco, then stripped bark from the tree. bark from the tree.

Next the Indian outlined a face Next the Indian outlined a face and cut out the section to the tree and cut out the section to the tree he had outlined. Then the he had outlined. Then the Iroquois went into a secluded Iroquois went into a secluded shelter to carve the mask. The shelter to carve the mask. The mask was polished then decorated mask was polished then decorated with hair, feathers, etc.with hair, feathers, etc.

Sometimes the Sometimes the Indians wore Indians wore corn husks corn husks masks or painted masks or painted their faces to their faces to frighten away frighten away the evil spirits. the evil spirits.

GamesGames

The Iroquois Indians played the Sacred Bowl Game during the last day of the "Ceremonial of Midwinter" which marked the end of the year.

The wooden bowl was decorated with The wooden bowl was decorated with four clan symbols - the bear, wolf, four clan symbols - the bear, wolf, turtle, and deer. To play the game a turtle, and deer. To play the game a player placed the six nuts which were player placed the six nuts which were colored on one side inside the bowl colored on one side inside the bowl and hit the bowl against the ground. and hit the bowl against the ground. If five of the six pits turned up the If five of the six pits turned up the same color, the player scored and same color, the player scored and took another turn. The first player to took another turn. The first player to reach 10 points wins the game. reach 10 points wins the game.

This ends the presentation on the This ends the presentation on the Woodland Indians. Use the Woodland Indians. Use the information you learned to help information you learned to help write your report and slide show.write your report and slide show.

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