Group Writings (Native American Tribes)

1. Native American Tribes of the
United States
Written by: Mrs. J’s 5th Grade Class 2011

2. Eastern Woodlands
Written by Jeremy, Nicole & Makayla
The Eastern Woodlands lived in homes and clothing made to fit the climate were
they live. They lived in the southern climates, people built houses without walls. These homes
had just a roof for shade and it help to protect them from rain. People made light clothing woven
from grass and other things to wear into the hot weather. Farther north, the American Indian
tribes needed protection from the cold and they wore clothing made from deerskin. The
Hauennosaunee also know as the Iroquois built longhouses for shelter.
Most Eastern Woodlands Indians were farmers. They cleared fields and the forest
trees by burning the area. They planted crops between the trees stumps. Their main crops were
corn, beans and squash also known as the “Three Sisters.” Some woodland indians grew these
three plants together. When the corn stalks grew they would help to support the vines of the bean
plants. The shade from the squash leaves would help to kept the weeds from spreading.
The Eastern Woodlands tribes were located on the east side of America by the
Atlantic Ocean. Their villages were located on hills and grasslands so they were able to plant
their food. There were some tribes located close to swamps. They had close allies in the Plains
Indian tribes.

3. Northwest Coast
Written by Jocelynn, Thomas & Vernon
The Northwest Coast tribes lived in the northwest coastal area. This area ranged
from Alaska to Northern California. They lived in plank houses made from cedar logs that
helped to frame the homes.
The tribes primarily ate foods from the ocean which consisted of seals, sea lions,
fish such as halibut, cod and flounder. One whale could feed a whole village for a month. They
would also hunt during certain times of the year. They would hunt deer, bison, elk and
sometimes bear. Every part of the animals were used. They would eat all of the meat and then
the rest was used to make clothes out of the animal hides and the bones were used to make
jewelry.
For entertainment the tribes would have potlatches. Potlatches are important
celebrations. They would be performed with the marriage of a chief or when a new chief was
chosen.

4. The Plains Indians
Written by Payton, Kaitlynn & Justin
The Plains Indian tribes lived in earth lodges. The earth lodges were made out of
bark, earth and grass. Earth lodges protected people from cold and stormy weather. With the
animals the Plains people hunted and killed, they would make designs to put on their house. The
earth lodges were built similar to wigwams but are much bigger in size. Mats and wood screens
divided the long houses into separate rooms. Each house would hold an entire clan, as many as
60 people.
The great plains are located in the center of North America. The plains stretch
from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from Texas to Canada. The dry land of
the western plains made farming different than other tribes.
The Plains Indian tribes would farm in the spring and fall. They were able to
farm because they had good rainfall in these seasons. They also hunted buffalo in the summer
and winter because these seasons were not the best times to farm. They would leave their homes
to go and hunt buffalo to help feed their families. For entertainment, they would play a game
called shinny. Shinny is a game with two teams and the goal is to get the ball past the other
teams goal posts, almost like soccer.

5. The Great Eastern Woodlands
Written by Isabell, Bryce & Samantha
The Eastern Woodlands Indians lived in the eastern part of the United States.
There it had hills, mountains, plains and valleys. These areas got plenty of rain creating a small
rainforest. This rainforest was known as the Eastern Woodlands. It once stretched from the
Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. The
woodlands were made up of cedar, oak, maple, pine and birch trees.
These Eastern Woodlands people ate mostly crops. They would clear the forest by
setting the forest on fire. Corn, beans and squash were some of the crops that they would grow
together. They would plant the squash in shaded areas to help keep weeds from growing. Some
Eastern Woodlands people also hunted deer, bears and rabbits for food. They would make syrup
from the sap of trees and they found and planted wild rice.
As part of their entertainment, the Indians would make rattles from deer toes. For
dances and celebrations, they would make masks from clay and tie their legs together when they
would dance. Most of the celebrations were to help celebrate marriages.

6. Southwest Indians
Written by Juanta, Nick & Brittany
The early Hopi tribes used irrigation to grow beans, squash and corn. Corn was
their most important crop and was part of every meal The Hopi grew yellow, blue, red and
white corn. They grew enough to last the whole year and they would keep it in storage in rooms
in their pueblos. The very first Southwest tribes hunted mammoths until they became extinct.
Then they began to hunt buffalo as well as collecting wild plants for food.
The Southwest Indian tribes entertainment was to make different things out of
clay. The Hopi tribes would make pots, jewelry and items they needed by hand. The modern
day Hopi tribes still have ceremonies and dances to celebrate important events. Ceremonies are
special events that let the people express their beliefs. They would have dances to ask their gods
for a good harvest and for good food.
Their homes were made out of sticks, stones and clay. The clay was called adobe.
They would build their homes on the top of steep mesas.

7. The Northwest Pacific Indians
Written by Jakob & Davante
The Northwest Pacific Indians lived in large houses. The materials that they used
to build their homes were boards cut from cedar trees. In the spring and summer, thousands of
fish would fill the streams. During these months the Indians caught so many extra salmon that
they dried and ate it all year long. Dried salmon was part of everyone’s diet but it was not their
only food. They also ate shellfish, whales and seals. In the forest, they gathered berries and fern
roots along with hunting deer, elk and bear.
The way they would celebrate was by having a potlatch. A potlatch is a type of
celebration or formal ceremony. Some of the reasons why they would have a potlatch was the
death of a chief, marriage of a chief and other important events in their chiefs life.

8. The Plains Indians
Written by: Michael, Lilly & Josh
The location were the Plains Indians lived was a very large piece of property.
They all lived in teepees on their large land. Hunting was the main way they got food for their
tribe. They had great weapons and surroundings that would allow them to hide while they
hunted for food.
Their main form of shelter was a teepee. They were made out of the skins from
the buffalos. The teepees were made to be able to be carried easily and transport if needed. The
top of teepees were open and that would let the smoke from their fires escape along with allowing
the fresh air to come in.
Since their main source of food was the buffalo they used all parts of the animal.
They used the meat for food, the skin for clothing and teepees and their bones for weapons and
jewelry. They did not waste any part of the buffalo.

9. The Northwest Tribes
Written by: Darine
The Pacific Northwest was a coastal area that stretched from Alaska to Northern
California. The region is bordered by mountains to the wast and ocean to the west. The
coastline had island and bays and the thick forest covered most of the land. Several American
Indian groups lived in this region when Europeans first came to North America. Many still live
there today.
In spring and summer, thousands of these fish filled the streams. During these
months the Indians caught so much extra salmon that they dried and ate it all year long. Dried
salmon was a large part of everyone diet but it was not their only food. Northwest Indians, also
ate shellfish, whales and seals. In the forests, they gathered berries and fern roots along with
hunting geese, deer, elk and bears.
The Northwest Indians built large houses using boards cut from cedar or spruce
trees and they would decorate it with special carvings. Families held potlatches to celebrate
important events such as a marriage or the building of a house. A potlatch was a large feast that
could last for several days. At a potlatch, the host served huge amounts of food and gave
valuable gifts to the guests. At times the potlatches were like competitions. Families would try to
give the largest and most expensive potlatches to show their wealth.