Traditions+and+Holidays

Indian Clay: Metalwork was not very developed before settlers came. They would just etch the metal. But when Europeans came they taught Native Americans how to do metals and then the metalwork jewelry really developed. [] ** Holidays **
 * Traditions **
 * Pottery: ** There has been ancient pottery that dates all the way back to 300 B.C.
 * 1) It is first dug up fresh from the earth.
 * 2) The clay is put on tin sheets to dry
 * 3) After it dries it is soaked in water and strained through a big screen
 * 4) Then they add tuff (a special sand) to the mixture so it can be made into pottery
 * 5) The pottery is then fired when they get it into what they want it to be
 * Potlatch ** is a type of party. There was one host that would cater to hundreds of people. This was a show of wealth, giving food and gifts. The host could be so overwhelmed with planning this party that a lot of times they would be left with absolutely nothing. This party could last up to 10 days.
 * Jewelry: ** A lot of their things used for making jewelry were used for trading. They traded beads, shells, silver, turquoise, and amber. There are two types of jewelry. Those are metalwork and beadwork. For beadwork, they carved shells, stones, copper, and wood. They beaded pieces of leather, their clothing and decorations.
 * Storytelling: ** They had many legends that they would tell. Their stories taught lessons and were passed on from generation to generation. These legends and stories help save their culture and traditions of their own tribes. Some of the stories are about heroes and others are about not so good people.
 * Medicine **: The medicine included herbs, but also spirits. Native Americans believed that people should live in harmony with the nature and you heal by returning people to that harmony. Most of the tribes had special "medicine" men and women who did the healing. Sometimes they are called shamans. They used different herbs to heal. These herbs were often fixed as tea, but sometimes they were burned and the smoke was a healer. Cleansing and purification was also popular. They did this most often in the sweat lodge. This lodge was like a sauna. They were small houses in which they burned cedar or willow. They were burned over the stones which would get hot. Then they would throw water on to make steam. Native Americans believed that the smoke and steam will clean them off diseases. Native Americans also had lots of ceremonies that were about healing.
 * Kachina Dolls: ** Kachinas were supposed to be spirits who returned with the clouds and rain to help their people. They believed that these spirits once lived among the people. These people supposedly got mad when they weren’t getting attention. They left and taught people how to dance. The Pueblo tribe is what really believed in this. They held ceremonies in which they asked the Kachinas to bring rain and make the crops grow. Drums and rattles were used in the dances during these ceremonies. Their dancing included wearing masks and chanting.
 * Dance **: This was used in a lot of different ceremonies and occasions. Weddings were always very festive. A lot of tribes also celebrated the harvest of new crops. The most important crop was corn to them. The corn harvest was often celebrated through dancing. People usually chant and dance to the beat of a drum. They also danced during the Sun dance and the Rain dance. During these festivals they painted their faces white to represent happiness. They would dance, play games, and thank the spirits for a good harvest. Shamans also used dance to call their spirits to heal the sick and wounded.

Prior to European settlers, North America consisted of 10-16 million Native Americans. Some researchers say there may have been nearly 30 million Native Americans, prior to European settlers For hundreds of years, before Pilgrims had arrived in the “New Land” in 1620, Native Americans of North America encountered English and Spanish slave traders, who had raided their villages. When the first set of European settlers landed on Plymouth, Native Americans were a bit apprehensive of having the Europeans on their land. However, Tisquantum, who is widely recognized as "Squanto" in American history, spoke English and was able to communicate with the Pilgrims, realizing they were sick and hungry. Tisquantum decided to show the Pilgrims how to survive in America through harvesting crops, hunting, and fishing. It has been argued how Tisquantum could have it in his heart to help the Pilgrims after being thrice captured by European slaver traders, prior to the Pilgrims' arrival. However, it is in Native American culture to have good will and a generous heart. It is through these actions the Natives believed they would receive blessings. It is speculated the first Thanksgiving occurred in October 1621. Some records report it lasted for three days and included: fasting, prayer, religious ceremonies, and the shared meal. The Wampanoag people, the tribe to which Tisquantum belonged, provided most of the food. However, the first Thanksgiving was neither to share thanks nor to display love and affection for one another as stories claim. The Wampanoag were actually invited to the first Thanksgiving to negotiate a treaty that would grant the Pilgrims rights to the Plymouth land. Since the Native American population and its knowledge of America’s lands outweighed that of the Pilgrims, the Pilgrims viewed Native Americans as a threat. By creating a treaty, the Pilgrims would have the land “secured” for when more Pilgrims reached the “New World”. Once more Pilgrims arrived, they could begin to conquer the Native Americans and pillage their land. Until then, the Pilgrims would “play nice” until the shift of power was transferred to them. Long before Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts Bay Colony proclaimed the first Thanksgiving, Native Americans of North America had harvest celebrations for centuries, praising the "Earth Mother" who bestowed upon them herds for hunting, aquatic bodies for fishing, and plentiful crops for harvesting. Although these harvest celebrations differed for each tribe across North America, there was still a common belief amongst Native Americans that a "spiritual" being or force had blessed them with life and longevity. proclaimed the first Thanksgiving, Native Americans of North America had harvest celebrations for centuries, praising the “Earth Mother” who bestowed upon them herds for hunting, aquatic bodies for fishing, and plentiful crops for harvesting. Although these harvest celebrations differed for each tribe across North America, there was still a common belief amongst Native Americans that a “spiritual” being or force had blessed them with life and longevity.
 * Thanksgiving **

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There are several Native American holidays and traditional festivals. Most tribes have their own individual celebrations, but many of the holidays have common themes or purposes. Native American holidays often celebrate nature, the spiritual world or ancestors. Popular holidays might honor the sun, the rain or crops needed to sustain life. Many Native American holidays stretch for a week, rather than just one day. The start of the new year is honored by some Native Americans, although many tribes have selected different dates as the last day of the year. The Hopi and the Zuni both celebrate a new year's celebration on 22 December. This ceremony is called Soyal, and it is a time of renewal and purification. A ritual is conducted to welcome the sun back after winter. The Makahiki new year festival is celebrated in Hawaii in October. It celebrates new beginnings and honors the Hawaiian god Lono, who represents fertility, music and rain. There are three phases of Makahiki. The first consists of purification and spiritual cleansing. During the second phase, the Native Hawaiians celebrate with hula dancing and athletic competitions. The final phase honors Lono and tests the tribe's current chief to ensure he is still worthy as a leader. The Tewa Native Americans celebrate three dances throughout the year honoring a different animal each time. The year begins with a turtle dance, which remembers and honors the day of creation. For three days in October, the Tewa celebrate with the deer dance. This dance represents both femininity and masculinity. The next month, the buffalo is recognized, and the Tewa see this as a time of healing and life.  Native American holidays often celebrate the sun as a life-giving power, both physically and spiritually. The Inca called their sun god Inti, and they celebrated him during the Inti Raymi. This festival traditionally begins on 21 June, the southern hemisphere's winter solstice. The celebrations consist of elaborate dances and the wearing of many bright colors. Originally, animal sacrifices were offered in hopes of an abundant year. The tribes typically celebrated the rain as often as they honored the sun. The Iroquois and the Mayans both held rain celebrations during their wet seasons. The Iroquois hold their thunder ceremony for a week in mid-April. Celebrations during the ceremony include rain dances and story-telling sessions that pass along mythology explaining the cause of rain, clouds and lightning. Many Native American holidays are about food, crops or hunting. The Zuni, Cherokee and Iroquois all have holidays to celebrate the growth and harvest of corn. Other crops honored among common Native American holidays are squash, strawberries and maple trees.

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Created By: Amber Hickman