Native American tribes

Introduction

There were many different Native American tribes and those with similar roles formed a main tribe or nation. Each had its own language, religion and customs. For the most part the tribes lived peacefully believing that nature was sacred and was to be shared. However, the coming of the Europeans and the removal of their land led to clash between the different tribes and between the Indians and whites. By the end of the nineteenth century the Indians had lost their fight to preserve their traditional way of life and those that had survived the battles were confined to reservations.

Apache :Nomadic Navajo: Semi-NomadicHunter-gatherer Hunter-FarmerArapaho: Nomadic Nez Perce: Semi-NomadicHunters Hunter gathererBlackfoot: Nomadic Pawnee: Semi-Nomadic Hunter-Gatherer Hunter-FarmerCherokee: Static Shawnee: NomadicHunter-farmer Hunter-Farmer Cheyenne: Nomadic Shoshone: NomadicHunter-Gatherer Hunter-gathererComanche: Nomadic Sioux: Nomadic Hunter-Gatherer HunterCrow: Nomadic Hunter-Gatherer

Each of the main Plains' tribes

Apache

Made up of several different groupsLived in extended family unitsUsual shelter was a dome-shaped lodge called a wickiupPolygamy was allowed but rarely practisedReliant on the buffaloFrequent disputes with the Comanche's led to their weakening in the 1700sTraded with the Pueblos in Mexico or raided Spanish villages for goods and horses1861 conflict between Apaches led by Concise and Americans in protest at being forced onto reservations1874 a group of Apaches led by Geronimo escaped capture and fled to Mexico1886 Geronimo forced to surrender and taken to Fort Marion in Florida

Arapaho

Usual shelter was a tipiWomen were in charge of the home and owned the tipiMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campReliant on the buffaloPerform Sun Dance in the summerFrequent conflicts with Shoshone and Pawnee tribes1864 Arapaho were among those slaughtered in the Sand Creek Massacre1867 placed on Oklahoma reservation1876 Northern Arapaho placed on Wind River reservation in Wyoming1889 Active in bringing about the Ghost Dance movement

Blackfoot

Made up of several different groupsUsual shelter was a tipiWomen were in charge of the home and owned the tipiMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campPolygamy was usualReliant on the buffaloPerformed Sun Dance in the summerMid 1800s many killed by smallpox1870 200 killed in the Marias Massacre

Cherokee

Made up of seven different clansUsual shelter was cane and mud plaster hutsWomen were in charge of the home and landMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campGrew corn, beans, squash, and sunflowersUsed canoes1821 Sequoyah invented the Cherokee alphabet1838-9 moved west to Oklahoma (Trail of Tears - 4000+ died on the 800 mile journey)

Cheyenne

Made up of ten different bandsAllied with Arapaho and SiouxUsual shelter was a tipiWomen were in charge of the home and owned the tipiMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campReliant on the buffalo1864 Cheyenne were among those slaughtered in the Sand Creek Massacre1876 Northern Cheyenne took part in the Battle of the Little Bighorn1877 Many forced to Oklahoma those that resisted were shot

Comanche

Established around 1700 after breaking away from ShoshoneLed by Peace Chief and War ChiefUsual shelter was a tipiWomen were in charge of the home and owned the tipiMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campReliant on the buffaloFrequent conflicts with Apache and Spanish50% killed by smallpox and cholera in the mid 1800s 1874-5 Took part in the Buffalo War (Red River War) in protest at the numbers of buffalo being slaughteredBy 1879 most were on Fort Sill reservation

Crow

Established around 1700 after breaking away from the SiouxTwo groups - Mountain Crow and River CrowUsual shelter was a tipiWomen were in charge of the home and owned the tipiMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campReliant on the buffaloFrequent conflict with Sioux, Shoshone and Blackfoot1851 Given 35 million acres of land1868 Land reduced to 8 million acres1870 Placed on reservation in Oklahoma

Navajo

Moved to south-west around 1500Usual shelter was a Hogan (round stick house covered with mud or hides)Women were in charge of the home and owned the HoganMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campKept sheep and women spun and wove wool into clothTraded with the SpanishFrequent conflict with SpanishConflict with Americans following Mexican War 18491863 American force under Kit Carson killed Navajo sheep1863-4 Forced to move 300 miles to Fort Sumner (The Long Walk) many died on the way1869 Placed on reservation and given 30,000 sheep by US government

Naz Perce

Made up of two groups - Upper and Lower Nez PerceName given by the French on account of the tribe piercing their nosesUsual shelter originally a longhouse but later used tipisWomen were in charge of the homeMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campMade canoes and fished for salmonFrequent conflict with Crow and Shoshone1863 Allocated land reduced by 7 million acres1877 Under Chief Joseph actively resisted being moved to reservation (Nez Perce War)Defeated at the Battle of Bear Paw Mountains

Pawnee

Made up of four different bandsUsual shelter was an earth lodge but used tipis when huntingWomen were in charge of the homeMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campMany killed by smallpox and cholera in the mid 1800s 1825 recognised supremacy of US government1830-1860 - gave up increasing amounts of land to US governmentMany Pawnee became scouts for the US government1876 Moved to Oklahoma reservation

Shawnee

Made up of five different groupsAllied with CherokeeUsual shelter was a wikkum or wigwam (small round dwelling)Women were in charge of the home and farming cornMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campUsed canoes1740-1760 Caught up in the conflict between the French and British over OhioSome fought for the British in the War of Independence while others remained neutralTecumseh led resistance against American expansion but was killed in 1813Black Hoof led resistance against Indian removal until his death in 18311832 Shawnee tribe were living on reservations

Shoshone

Made up of seven different groupsUsual shelter was a tipi but some lived in brushwood sheltersWomen were in charge of the home and owned the tipiMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campReliant on the buffaloDriven from their land by Mormon settlement of Utah1862 Bear Hunter led a series of raids on Mormon livestock1863 Bear Hunter and 250 Shoshone killed in Bear River MassacreAfter 1863 remaining Shoshone moved to Fort Hall reservation

Sioux

 

Made up of seven different groupsLargest Indian tribeUsual shelter was a tipiWomen were in charge of the home and owned the tipiMen were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the campReliant on the buffaloPerformed the Sun Dance in the summer1862 Group led by Little Crow massacred 800 settlers in Minnesota1866-68 Red Cloud led resistance to white settlement along the Bozeman Trail (Red Cloud's War)1876 Took part in the Battle of the Little Bighorn1890 Finally defeated at Battle of Wounded Knee