NATIVE AMERICAN EXHIBIT PLAINS TIPI ALSO TEEPEE OR

NATIVE AMERICAN EXHIBIT

PLAINS TIPI (ALSO TEEPEE OR TEPEE) Plains Native Americans did not stay in one place very long. They followed the buffalo for food. The teepee was easy to set up and take down for shelter. It was usually made with long sticks found on the prairie and animal hides. Many times painted artwork was added to the hides.

OUR TIPI MODEL

Creators

PLAINS BUFFALO SKIN SHIELDS Fun Fact: The Osage’s warrior shield is the image on the Oklahoma state flag. It is a memorial to the Choctaw Native American soldiers in the Civil War. Plains Native Americans used shields made of thick buffalo skin to defend themselves. These shields were used during the hunt of buffalo as well as battle. Symbols were painted on the front. These symbols were spiritual creations for protection. Meaning: 6 white crosses= high ideals Pipe, olive branch = peace and unity.

OUR MODEL SHIELD

HEADDRESS All of the Native Americans used headdresses. Plains natives used buffalo furs. Southeast did small side feather headdresses. Others wore Mohawks with short stiff hairs. Warbonnets were large and elaborate.

OUR HEADDRESS

Creators

NORTHEAST WOODLANDS WIGWAM Native Americans in the Northeast built wigwams with flexible saplings bent into a dome shape. This structure was usually covered with thatch and birch bark. It was a semi-perminent shelter from the cold climate of the North.

OUR MODEL WIGWAM

CREATORS

NORTHEAST WOODLANDS LONGHOUSE The longhouses in the Northeast were usually built from birch trees, and they were covered with seasoned birch bark. These shelters were sometimes 100 ft. long, and they were constructed near one another to make small villages. Each longhouse contained more than a dozen families. Beds had deer skins and other animal furs. These families formed Native American tribes.

OUR MODEL LONGHOUSE

CREATORS

SOUTHEAST WOODLANDS CHICKEE The warmer climate in the southeast allowed Native Americans, like the Seminoles, to create open structures called Chickees. These shelters had medium sized tree trunks as columns and a thatch covering.

OUR MODEL CHICKEE

CREATORS

PACIFIC NORTHWEST -LONGHOUSE WITH TOTEM POLE Pacific Northwest Native Americans lived in longhouses built of thick cedar planks. These homes were also called plank houses. Amazingly, they chopped down and split massive cedar trees using beaver teeth and stone axes. The longhouses had brightly painted spiritual art on the front and a room designated for worship. They also sculpted large cedar trees. These Totem Poles looked like different animals. They believed the family history was represented by the animal spirits.

OUR MODEL LONGHOUSE

CREATORS

SOUTHWEST PUEBLO 0 Due to the hot, dry climate, Pueblo cliff dwellings were permanent structures for Native Americans that did not migrate

OUR MODEL PUEBLO CLIFF DWELLING

CREATORS

SOUTHWEST GROUND HOGAN The dry climate of the southwest had a limited amount of natural resources to build shelter. Many Native Americans used the soil like a paste for their homes. The moist dirt held their ground hogans together. The soil home also provided relief from the extremely hot temperature of the environment.

OUR MODEL HOGAN

CREATOR

SOUTHWEST LOOM The loom was a device created by Native Americans to weave large fabric items such as blankets, rugs, and clothes.

OUR MODEL LOOM

CREATORS

SOUTHWEST HANDLOOM Native Americans also used handlooms to make small pouches, travel bags, and spice bags. The small pouches were often used to carry seeds when planting.

OUR MODEL HANDLOOMS

CREATORS

PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIVE AMERICAN MASKS Spirit Mask Eagle Mask Sun Mask

WAY TO GO! This exhibit was brought to you from the 4 th graders at Forest Heights Elementary School in Columbia, South Carolina. 2011 -2012 School Year