Southwest

1. Southwest

2. The region that today encompasses • west Texas • New Mexico • Arizona • southern California • northern reaches of Mexico

3. Leading up to end of fifteenth century major change in the region • Anasazis • Mesa Verde (Colorado) • Canyon del Muerto & Canyon De Chelley (Arizona) • Chaco Canyon (New Mexico)

4. Population of Chaco numbered 8000 • Largest apartment complex in USA until 19th century

5. In1300s society disappeared • Formed new towns, joined others or vanished • Drought, war, illness? • Whatever caused change it highlights one thing • Life was fragile and difficult in the region • The spirits of the earth and sky had to be appeased • Adaptation, adoption and change all needed

6. Largest current nation in the region Navajo • Recent arrivals in 1492 • Language puts them originally in Northwest Canada • Adjusted culture to the region • Materially in manner they extracted a living from the region • But also through stories

7. Emergence into a fourth world • Blanca Peak, Mount Taylor, San Francisco peaks, La Plata Mountains • 4 sacred mountains delineating their boundaries

8. Other nations in the region - Hopi and Acomas • Known as the Pueblos due to their housing form • Many villages occupied for hundreds of years • Period allowed for expansive towns with linked houses • Helpful against severe weather and attacks • Often on the top of Mesas

9. Region afflicted by short growing season, sandy soil, uncertain water • Despite this, a successful economy based upon agriculture • Highly organized and developed ceremonial process • With proper homage they ensured • Rain and good harvests • Ceremonies also cemented social order

10. Ceremonies lasted from a few hours to a week or more • Time split between public events in plaza and smaller events in Kivas

11. Leaving the Kiva, represented emergence from a lower world • Different forms representing different animals appeared • Ceremonies contained great solemnity and great humor • All aimed a reinforcing the idea of harmony and balance within life and society

12. Stuff

13. Early American Towns

14. Arriving colonists often represented Native Americans as • Wandering Nomads • Remember my caution over the word • But Urban America existed before the arrival of Europeans

15. Pueblo Bonito: 600 – 850 rooms Built A.D. 919-1085

16. Cliff Palace Mesa Verde – A.D. 700-1150200 rooms/ 20 Kivas

17. Cahokia pop. 10,000 – 30,000 A.D. 1050 -1250Philadelphia 1763 23,000

18. Car

19. Taos Pueblo People living in it in 1540 – present

20. Hochelaga-Present day Montreal

21. Indian Village of Secoton • “rypecorne” • “greenecorne” • “corne newly sprung”

22. Back to the Southwest

23. Another group of Athapaskans in the region • The Apache • Around 1492 Apache still moving southward • splitting into the people known today as: • Jicarilla, Lipan, Chiricahua, Mescalero

24. Yuman language people • Extended from central Arizona • to the Mohave desert in eastern California • Yavapais, Havasupais, • North and western Arizona

25. Yavapai • Occasionally winter allowed for temporary settled communities • usually a nomadic group following food seasons • Wandered across miles of land and thousands of feet in different elevation

26. Havasupai • Around 100 A.D. moved into Cataract Creek Canyon • Part of Grand Canyon • Divided time between hunting and gathering on Plateau during Winter • Summers on the canyon floor with irrigated field • “People of the Blue Water”

27. Recently one nation from this region has hit the headlines The Haluspai

28. In Colorado River region largest group were • Mohave • Used river overflow to grow corn and beans • Caught fish in the river • Supplied a sufficient diet and allowed for other opportunities • Symbolic warfare • Based on honor as reward rather than territory • As with many other groups certain people through dreams were able to gain power to help in warfare

29. Southern California • Mountainous lands rimming the Pacific Ocean • People linked through Uto-Atecan Language group • A categorization of origin • Nations developed in different ways • Strong territoriality • Defending not boundaries but food and other resources

30. Eg • Ancestors of the Luiseño • Gathered food from Ocean and coast • Acorns • Major part of diet • Contained large amount of tannin – bitter • In order to remove this several steps were necessary • Take hull of acorn • Crush the nut with stone pestle • Leach out tannin with repeated pouring of warm water

31. The climate of Southern California • (before over population and smog) • Was bountiful • Allowed free time • Led to development of a “warrior” culture • With ceremonies to prepare people with strength and courage

32. Late teenage years • Boys lay in pit while adult men let loose ants on his body • Had to stay still suffering numerous bites • Eventually allowed to stand and ants were dusted off • With nettles

33. Chumash • Santa Barbara region went as far south as ….. • Malibu (a Chumash word) • Highly skilled hunters and fishermen – Ocean going canoes • Harpooned sea lions seals otter, swordfish • Also settled on offshore islands • Ceremonies reflect this duality • Swordfish and Barracuda dances • Bear dances

34. Northeast

35. We Six Nations of Indians feel we have potentially a superior social system to that of the United States. If only we were left alone, we could redevelop our society . . . Which was old in democracy when Europe new only Monarchs. • Ernest Benedict. Mohawk, 1942

36. Iroquois are a confederacy of 5 later 6 Nations • Symbolized by their housing • A multi-family dwelling • Longhouse • Not always that way

37. “Three sisters” • Corn, Beans & Squash • Arrived in Northeast pre 1000 A.D.

38. Became a major part of life style in northeast • 1536 Cartier visited Hochelga • When they left the town gave Cartier fish & bread • “throwing so much of it into our longboats that is seemed to rain bread”

39. Arrival did two things • 1) Brought prosperity, population, and power • 2) Brought new political factions • Led to an increase in conflict • Fueled by “Mourning Wars” • Never-ending warfare

40. An Onondaga chieftan, know to us today as • Hayenwathea or Hiawatha • Lost three daughters • Tadadaho, an Onondaga Shaman • Possibly responsible • Instead of revenge decided to break cycle • Wandered in forests in grief

41. Deganwidah – Huron • Eased Hiawatha’s grief • Words of condolence and beads of Wampum • Symbolically wiping away tears and returning wisdom

42. Rituals became the way in which the Iroquois dealt with outsiders • Daganwidah and Hiawatha composed “Laws of Peace” • recorded on a wampum belt • Travelled throughout nations • Mohawk • Oneidas • Cayugas • Senecas • All agreed

43. Only hold out • Tadadaho • The Onondaga Shaman • Hiawatha combed the snakes out of his hair • Eased his torment

44. 5 nations agreed to unite in common defense Each nation retained control of local affairs But acted through the Grand Council at Onondaga for common or national affairs

45. Jump ahead • 1744 Treaty of Lancaster, Pennsylvania • Canasatego, Onondaga Sachem • Frustrated at bickering between Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland

46. “We heartily recommend Union and good agreement between you… • Our wise forefathers established union and amity between the Five Nations; this has made us formidable; this has given us great weight and authority with out neighbouring nations. • We are a powerful Confederacy; and, by your observing the same methods our wise forefathers have taken, you will acquire fresh strength and power.”

47. It would be very strange thing if Six Nations of ignorant savages should be capable of a scheme for such a union, and be able to execute it in such a manner as that is has subsisted ages, and that appears indissoluble; and yet that a like union should be impracticable for ten or a dozen English Colonies. • 1751

48. Congressional Record -- SenateWednesday, September 16, 1987 100th Cong. 1st Sess.133 Cong Rec S 12214 • RESOLVED BY THE SENATE (THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCONCURRING), That: • (1)     The Congress, on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution, acknowledges the historical debt which this Republic of the United States of America owes to the Iroquois Confederacy and other Indian Nations for their demonstration of enlightened, democratic principles of government and their example of a free association of independent Indian nations;

49. Cultural trespass • Indian • Native American • American • Nomad • Warrior • Chief • Myth • Massacre • Patriot ? ? African/Asian Urban Soldier King History Victory Murderer