More Than Moccasins: A Kid's Activity Guide to Traditional North American Indian Life
INTRODUCTION For thousands of years the only people that lived in North America were Native Americans Scientists think that they first came from Asia to Alaska during the Ice Age They walked across a land bridge that is now covered by the ocean They lived here for thousands of years before Columbus and his Spanish ships arrived The Spaniards were looking for India so they called the people they met Indians The name stuck It was easier than learning the names of all the Native American groups there were hundreds of different nations The Native Americans lived everywhere in deserts on mountains in valleys in woodlands and in swamps Some farmed some hunted some fished and some were traders Early Native Americans lived in small family groups or tribes all over North America Most tribes spoke their own language had their own customs and formed many nations across the land Years ago people had to make everything they needed There were no stores If they couldn't find what they wanted they traded for it or found some thing else to use The materials they used had to be gathered near their homes because they had to walk everywhere they
The kinds of things each tribe used to make tools clothing toys shelter and food depended upon what they found around them or what they could trade They didn't try to live in a way that didn't make sense The people of the Plains who traveled a lot didn't make clay pots Pots were too heavy and broke too easily when they were moved so they made stor age containers and even houses from animal hides People who lived in the dry desert Southwest didn't make houses from logs because there weren't many trees Instead they created houses from rocks and mud called pueblos In sunny California the grass grew tall and lush People there used the grass to weave mats for their houses clothing to wear and even watertight baskets to cook in They cooked by dropping hot rocks into the basket of stew The Native Americans were resourceful about finding materials to use and they always tried new ideas and ways to use them The projects are designed so that you can do that too While the real item might have been made from hide bone and feathers those things aren't easy for all of us to find and collect So do as they did Look around you for other materials to substitute While you hunt and gather you'll probably find an endless supply of bathroom tissue tubes brown paper bags plastic milk jugs newspapers and empty cans Let your materials
speak to you as early artists did and feel free to change each project to use what you have on hand This book is filled with ideas for fun and interest ing things to make that will help you learn about what life was like for Indian children long ago It will give you a chance to live with history enjoying it while you create The projects are designed to make history exciting to explore using everyday things you find around your home Store your supplies in a large box and add to it whenever you find something with possibilities Some items to collect Beaded jewelry Old wigs and hairpieces Swish in warm water and dish soap dry on a bath towel and comb gently Leather clothing Old fur collars cuffs and hats Leather bootlaces Sticks Gather or save popsicle sticks Dowels Paint and coffee stirrers Feathers Feather dusters are a source or you can gather them in your yard wash in warm water shape them and dry Aluminum pie pans Recycle them when you are finished Round pizza cardboards Small stones Shells
Chamois Try an auto supply store Vinyl pieces Yarn scraps Buttons Bells Colored felt Ribbons and sewing trims Brown paper bags Paper towel and bathroom tissue tubes Thread spools Small pieces of bone Save from dinner soak in vinegar and scrub with a toothbrush The projects in this book will help you understand the people who made the items and how they lived Some items can be found in museums and some are still being made by Native Americans today Feel free to do as the Indian artist did add or change the designs to better use the materials you have or to show your own creativity Indians were always eager to find new materials and ideas choosing and using what they felt to be more elegant unique or useful Let your own projects reflect that same spirit There are about 500 tribes in North America today A tribe is a group of relatives who speak the same language and have the same leader or chief A chief can be a man or
