Native American Contributions
How did Native Americans shape our culture and history?
Goal:
Goal:
Native American tribes have a long and rich history that reflects the diversity of cultures, traditions, and leadership systems across North America. Similar to how countries today have presidents or other leaders, Native American tribes had chiefs, councils, or other forms of leadership, each suited to the needs of their people. These leaders were vital not only in times of conflict but also in ensuring the well-being, traditions, and governance of their tribes. Across the regions of North America, Native American tribes made significant contributions that continue to influence our society today. The map below shows the different regions to which Native American groups belonged.
Move through the slides below to explore the contributions of tribes from different regions of North America.
Eastern Woodlands
This region included the Abenaki, Massachuset, Pequot, Narragansett, Iroquois, Lenape, Shawnee, and Miami tribes.
These tribes developed extensive trade networks and contributed to the first democratic-style governance system in North America, such as the Iroquois Confederacy, which influenced the U.S. Constitution.
They excelled in agriculture, growing crops like corn, beans, and squash, which became staples in American diets.
Southeast
This region included the Powhatan, Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Natchez and Seminole tribes.
Southeast tribes made significant advancements in agriculture and land management, cultivating crops in challenging environments.
The Cherokee developed their own written language, created by Sequoyah, which enabled the first Native American newspaper.
They contributed to U.S. history through key alliances and resistances during periods of settlement and colonization.
Great Plains
This region included the Sioux, Crow, Cheyenne, Pawnee, Arapaho, Comanche, and Chickasaw tribes.
Tribes of the Great Plains were known for their expertise in horseback riding and buffalo hunting, which sustained their communities and influenced modern ranching techniques.
They contributed to American cultural symbolism through the use of the tipi and war bonnets, which remain iconic representations of Native heritage.
Southwest
This region included the Navajo, Pueblo, and Apache tribes.
The Navajo developed sophisticated weaving and silverwork traditions that are still celebrated today.
Pueblo communities created advanced irrigation systems and multi-story adobe dwellings, some of which still stand.
Southwest tribes enriched American folklore with their unique storytelling traditions and ceremonial practices.
Great Basin
This region included the Western Shoshone, Northern Paiute, Southern Paiute, Ute, and Washoe tribes.
Great Basin tribes adapted to arid environments through resourceful techniques such as basket weaving, food storage, and sustainable use of natural resources.
In Nevada, the Western Shoshone and Paiute tribes contributed to the state’s cultural heritage by preserving traditional hunting, gathering, and spiritual practices tied to the land.
Washoe contributions include advanced woodworking and their distinct style of basketry, which remains a hallmark of Nevada art.
Plateau
This region included the Yakima and Nez Perce tribes.
Plateau tribes were skilled fishers, relying heavily on salmon for sustenance and trade.
They were known for their exceptional horse breeding, which influenced the spread of horses across Native American communities.
Northwest Coast
This region included the Chinook tribe. The Chinook are renowned for their maritime skills and horn carvings made from mountain goat and bighorn sheep horns.
Their trade routes connected vast regions, fostering cultural and material exchange.
California
This region included the Pomo and Chumash tribes.
California tribes contributed to the arts through their intricate basketry and beadwork.
The Chumash were expert canoe builders, crafting tomols (plank canoes) for ocean travel and trade.
Question
Think about Native American groups in your state.
Ask a parent, teacher, or friend about groups they
know, or search online with their help. Try typing
“Native Americans in [your state]” into a search
engine to get ideas. What have their experiences and
contributions been to your state? Write your answer
in the space provided.
| Your Responses | Sample Answers |
|---|---|
Answers will vary. They could include responses like the following: Nevada – The Western Shoshone and Northern Paiute tribes contributed to Nevada by creating expert basket-weaving techniques. They also used careful hunting and gathering methods that protect nature. Their knowledge, spiritual practices, and connection to the land are still celebrated in Nevada today. New York – The Iroquois Confederacy developed one of the earliest forms of democratic governance in North America. Their ideas about councils and decision-making influenced the creation of the U.S. Constitution. |
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On the next few pages, you will learn about the contributions of some famous Native Americans, many of whom were chiefs of their tribes.