Native American

Cultures

UNIT 1

Vocabulary

Agriculture

•Growing plants for food; farming

Civilization

• A culture with cities, a government, and many different

jobs for people to do.

Plateau

• A large area of flat land higher than the surrounding

land.

Potlatch

• A traditional feast of Northwest Indians

Clan

• A group of related families

Pueblo

• The Spanish word for town.

Staple

• A main crop and food

Ceremony

• A formal act determined by ritual or custom

Lodge

• An American Indian dwelling that several families lived in

Nomad

• Person who moves around and does not live in one place

Travois

• A sled-like carrier pulled by a dog or horse

Longhouse

• A large house made with wood poles and bark

Confederation

• An organization of groups that band together to form a

type of government

Wampum

• A shaped and cut seashell used to symbolized agreements

and show important events

Barter

• To exchange goods without using money

Landform

• A feature on the surface of the land, such as a mountain,

valley or plain

Region

• An area with certain characteristics that set it apart from

surrounding areas

Economy

• The system people use to produce goods and services

Environment

• The things that surround someone, including water and

land