Interesting Findings

While reading through Mark Sutton's An Introduction to Native North America, and other readings such as Everything You Wanted to know about Indians but were Afraid to Ask by Anton Truer. I found some interesting things about the native cultures of this land I live on. 

One thing important to note are the misconceptions I and many of us have on the living arrangements of native groups. It is typical for one who has not learned of the real living environments of native groups to assume they lived in teepees. As seen in a prior posting about the Pueblo structures, native peoples lived in a variety of complex structures. The Haudenosaunee lived in long houses (which is actually what their name translates to "People of the Longhouse"). For an example of a Long House see below:

http://americanindianshistory.blogspot.com/2011/08/native-american-indian-houses.html

More on houses can be found in Sutton. My focus group, the Pawnee, can be seen in a photograph with a lodge which was among "several hundred earth covered houses, each with 30-50 people" (Sutton, 268). There is also a large ceremonial structure found on page 254 in Sutton. Moreover, the Hopi Indians had advanced houses with fireplaces and underground homes as well as shown in a previous post showcasing the book Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott. On page 70 in Sutton, we can see an illustration of a Unangan house on Unalaska Island drawn in 1778. These houses were built from driftwood and whale bone among other materials. 

Most of the general public simply does not know about the rich cultural differences among the First Peoples of North America. The "Indians lived in teepees" generalization is one misconception of many. 

I have found something interesting about the Pawnee, the group I have focused much research on. Instead of glorifying murdering their enemy, they participated in something called "counting coup." This practice entailed physically touching an enemy which gained the individual prowess and points (Sutton, 249). I just found this strange and interesting. 

Another note-able find about the Pawnee people is their fear of those who have been scalped and lived beyond that horrific experience. These people were allowed to do basically anything they wanted and were seen as "spiritual or powerful." If the community feared them too much the community sometimes decided to execute the individual (Sutton, 269). 

Works cited:

Sutton, Mark. 2012. An introduction to Native America. Boston: Pearson publishers. Print.

"American Indian's History: Native American Indian Houses, Illustrated." American Indian's History. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://americanindianshistory.blogspot.com/2011/08/native-american-indian-houses.html>.