2. THE FIRST MICHIGANIANS
• 11,000 years ago the first Native Americans began to arrive in Michigan.
• Archaeologists uncovered evidence of these people near Detroit.
• they found stone tools, spear points, and the remains of a hearth, or fireplace
• Used weapons to hunt animals, such as MAMMOTHS
• They arrived through a passage called the “BERINGA”
• This piece of land was a dried up body of water which
is now known as the Bering Strait. It separates North
America from Alaska
3. OLD COPPER PEOPLE
• Settlements begin in Upper Peninsula, stayed in one place for periods at
a time
• Built villages along shores of Lake Michigan and Superior
• While exploring their new found area they made an important discovery
• While scratching at the soil and rock around Isle Royale and Keweenaw
Peninsula they discovered copper.
• Next they discovered heating copper to shape into
• Weapons, tools, jewelry.
4. MOUND BUILDERS
• 3,000 years ago began to settle in permanent communities
• Built huge piles of earth in their community to hold ceremonies,
funerals, and speeches
• More than 600 mounds still exist today
• Mound builders traveled long distances to trade with other Americans.
As far as the Rocky Mountains and near Gulf of Mexico
5. THE MIGRATION WEST & BIRTH OF CULTURE
• Around 1,000 years ago Native Americans began leaving their homes on
the east coast and migrated west
• Several of these groups settled in Upper and Lower Peninsula of
Michigan
• Largest group was the Chippewa (O’Jibwa)
• The Ottawa settled on shores of Lake Mich.
• Potawatomi made their home in the South
• Of Michigan
• The three were called “Three Fires”
• They were considered family
• Ottawa called Chippewa older brother and
the Potawatomi younger brother
Shared common culture (way of life of group)
Same customs, beliefs, language (Algonquian)
6. VILLAGE LIFE
• Settled in villages of 50 to 300 people
• Dome shaped housing called “Wigwams”
• Built by covering frames made by small trees with large sheets of
bark
• In the center of each home was a fire pit, fire escaped through
hole in roof
• Covered door with deer skin in winter to keep home warm
• Chippewa and Potawatomi villages had clans
• Clans were a group made up of different family members
• Members: Mothers, Fathers, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and children
• Often each clan named after an Animal; each clan had its own stories,
heroes, and symbols
7. WORKING TOGETHER
• Preparing for Winter
• Planted large gardens of corn, beans, squash, potatoes, and pumpkins.
They gathered nuts, berries, and harvested rice from nearby lakes and
rivers
• In the spring they made maple syrup from the sap of maple trees
• They were experts at hunting and fishing; would travel hundreds of
miles in search of deer, elk, moose, and buffalo
• Community worked together; used skills to their benefit. Everyone had
a job
• Whole villages came together to celebrate harvests. A time for singing,
dancing, and games.
• Storytelling a big part of culture, children very good listenors.
9. RELIGION THREE FIRES
• The way people • Believed in spirits, lived
worship the God or everywhere in the world
gods they believe in. • Spirit resided in animal,
pebble, or even blade of
grass
• Believed spirit would give
strength in times of
danger
• Carried stones, feathers,
and rabbits paw
• Believe all things had
purpose and should be
used carefully
• Shared gifts with
community such as deer
etc.
10. MYTHS
• Myth- a story that
explains the beliefs of
a group
• How the Rainbow Was
Made
• The Ojibwa Creation
Story
• Turtle Island
• Vision Quest
