The Yaocomaco Native Americans lived in Maryland around the Chesapeake Bay, occupying both sides of the St. Mary's River. They lived in a land rich with soil surrounded by rivers and valleys, using the natural resources like trees for housing, transportation, and cooking. The tribe experienced four seasons and moderate temperatures. They grew crops like corn, squash, and beans in the Three Sisters Garden and gathered wild foods such as persimmons, grapes, and acorns. Common animals in the region included deer, geese, fish, oysters, and crabs. Men hunted and fished for food while building homes, trading, and protecting the tribe. Women prepared meals, gathered crops, made

1. Yaocomaco NativeYaocomaco Native
AmericansAmericans
By: Erica CernigliaBy: Erica Cerniglia

2. Where did theWhere did the
Yaocomaco tribe live?Yaocomaco tribe live?
 The Yaocomaco Indians livedThe Yaocomaco Indians lived
in Maryland around thein Maryland around the
Chesapeake Bay.Chesapeake Bay.
 They occupied both sides ofThey occupied both sides of
the St. Marythe St. Mary’s River.’s River.

3. What was the landWhat was the land
like?like?
 The Yaocomaco NativeThe Yaocomaco Native
Americans wereAmericans were
surrounded by rivers andsurrounded by rivers and
valleys which allowed forvalleys which allowed for
rich soil.rich soil.
 They also were able to useThey also were able to use
things in theirthings in their
surroundings to survive.surroundings to survive.
They used the trees aroundThey used the trees around
them for housing,them for housing,
transportation, andtransportation, and
cooking.cooking.

4. What was the weatherWhat was the weather
like?like?
 The Yaocomaco tribeThe Yaocomaco tribe
experienced 4experienced 4
seasons: spring,seasons: spring,
summer, winter, andsummer, winter, and
fall.fall.
 The temperaturesThe temperatures
were moderate.were moderate.

5. What plants grewWhat plants grew
there?there?
 A popular way ofA popular way of
growing crops was thegrowing crops was the
Three Sisters Garden. ItThree Sisters Garden. It
consisted of corn,consisted of corn,
squash, and beans.squash, and beans.
 The tribe also gatheredThe tribe also gathered
persimmons, paw paws,persimmons, paw paws,
wild grapes, walnuts,wild grapes, walnuts,
and acorns.and acorns.

6. What animals wereWhat animals were
found in this region?found in this region?
 Deer was one of theDeer was one of the
most treasured animals.most treasured animals.
The Yaocomacos usedThe Yaocomacos used
the entire animal, downthe entire animal, down
to its brain!to its brain!
Other animals thatOther animals that
were common in thewere common in the
Northeast wereNortheast were
geese, fish, oysters,geese, fish, oysters,
and crabs.and crabs.

7. What responsibilities didWhat responsibilities did
the Yaocomaco menthe Yaocomaco men
have?have?
 The men ofThe men of
the tribethe tribe
would huntwould hunt
and fish forand fish for
food, build thefood, build the
homes, tradehomes, trade
clothes, andclothes, and
protect theprotect the
rest of therest of the
tribe.tribe.

8. What responsibilities didWhat responsibilities did
the Yaocomaco womenthe Yaocomaco women
have?have?
 Yaocomaco women
were responsible for
preparing meals,
gathering crops such
as berries and fruits,
making baskets from
cordage, softening
and sewing deer
hides for clothing,
and repairing the
homes.
Cordage – string used to tie
bundles and other items
together

9. What responsibilities didWhat responsibilities did
the Yaocomaco childrenthe Yaocomaco children
have?have?
 Children were in
charge of
practicing/playing
games in order to
become productive
members of society.
For example, boys
threw corn cobs into
rings in order to
increase their
accuracy rate.

10. What did theWhat did the
Yaocomaco tribe wearYaocomaco tribe wear
for clothing?for clothing?
 All the clothing wasAll the clothing was
made from deermade from deer
skins.skins.
 Women also madeWomen also made
necklaces fromnecklaces from
glass beads.glass beads.

11. What did the YaocomacoWhat did the Yaocomaco
tribe wear for clothing?tribe wear for clothing?
(cont.)(cont.)
 In the summer, they woreIn the summer, they wore
minimal clothing to keep cool.minimal clothing to keep cool.
 In the winter months, the tribeIn the winter months, the tribe
members wore mantles, furmembers wore mantles, fur
that covered their shoulders.that covered their shoulders.
 When it was cold, leggingsWhen it was cold, leggings
also helped keep the Nativealso helped keep the Native
American warm.American warm.

12. In what types of homesIn what types of homes
did the Yaocomacosdid the Yaocomacos
live?live?
 Longhouses wereLonghouses were
rectangular homes.rectangular homes.
 Longhouses were alsoLonghouses were also
made out of youngmade out of young
sticks.sticks.
 On top of the frame ofOn top of the frame of
sticks they would sewsticks they would sew
together bark.together bark.

13. Who was in charge ofWho was in charge of
the Yaocomaco tribe?the Yaocomaco tribe?
 The tayac, or leader,The tayac, or leader,
was in charge of thewas in charge of the
largest andlargest and
strongest tribe.strongest tribe.
 The tayac made theThe tayac made the
decisions for thedecisions for the
tribe.tribe.

14. What were theWhat were the
customs of thecustoms of the
Yaocomaco?Yaocomaco?
 The women ofThe women of
the tribe taughtthe tribe taught
the daughtersthe daughters
the jobs of thethe jobs of the
women.women.
 The men of theThe men of the
tribe taught thetribe taught the
sons the jobssons the jobs
that they had.that they had.

15. BibliographyBibliography
 American indians - woodland tribes. (2013). Retrieved May 1, 2013, fromAmerican indians - woodland tribes. (2013). Retrieved May 1, 2013, from
American Indians - Woodland Tribes website:American Indians - Woodland Tribes website:
http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1330-american-indians-woodland-tribes-http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1330-american-indians-woodland-tribes-
and-california-indiansand-california-indians
 ""Eastern Woodlandss Indians."." Encyclopædia BritannicaEncyclopædia Britannica.. EncyclopædiaEncyclopædia
Britannica Online School EditionBritannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013.. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013.
Web. 1 May 2013.<http://school.eb.com/eb/article-9439106>.Web. 1 May 2013.<http://school.eb.com/eb/article-9439106>.
 Shoemaker, S. (2000).Shoemaker, S. (2000). Where maryland began-- the colonial history ofWhere maryland began-- the colonial history of
st. mary's countyst. mary's county. Orion publications.. Orion publications.