Native American History: Diversity among the tribes

Native American History:

Diversity among the tribes

by Mel Simmons-Rosen

​Room 191: Where the learning happens!

Poll

Do you think you will ace all four questions?

• I am confident I will! 

  Easy Peasy!

• I hope I do!

• I'm pretty sure I missed one or two.

• I didn't bother to do the work, so I have no idea.

Multiple Choice

Read the summary below. Choose the answer that BEST fits into the blank to complete the summary.

Native Americans were the first people to live in America. There are 574 different Native American tribes, or "nations", recognized by the U.S. government today. Each tribe of Native American people has their own customs, language, and way of life.

•   They have a shared hard history of having their lands taken, but every tribe is different.

• They have a shared flourishing history, but after the 1600s tribes stopped being diverse.

• They have a shared war history, but tribes did not want to participate in World War II.

• They have a shared peaceful history, but some tribes wanted to start fighting with others.

Multiple Choice

      What effect did Christopher Columbus’ arrival to the Americas have on how Native American diversity has been viewed in the past and present?

• His arrival helped people in the past learn to value all the different customs of each Native American

  tribe and people still value them today.

• His arrival marked the beginning of Native American diversity being overlooked in history, and some people still think that way today.

• His arrival made different Native American tribes unite to welcome the European travelers, and this unity still exists among tribes today.

• His arrival caused Native American tribes to become more diverse, and today Native American culture is spread throughout the United States.

Multiple Choice

Select the sentence from the section “No Single Native American Language” that helps the reader understand the wide variety of Native American languages.

• There is no single Native American language.

• It would be as difficult for the Mohawk Indians of the East to talk with Zuni Indians of the West as it would be for Germans to speak with Greeks.

• In World War II, the United States used the uniqueness of the Navajo tribe's language to its advantage.

• The enemy could not understand Navajo and never broke the code.

Multiple Choice

Based on the article, which of these statements is TRUE?

• Although many Native American societies were ruled by men, the Iroquois women were in charge of choosing leaders.

• Although many Native American societies lived nomadic lives, the Lakota chose to settle down in farming communities.

• Although many Native American societies used totem poles, the Chinook used other symbols for their family history.

• Although many Native American societies had rulers with total control, the Natchez wanted everyone in the tribe to agree.

Poll

So, how did you do?

• Aced it! Knew I would!

• Aced it! Wasn't sure I would!

• Missed just one.

• Yup, missed a few, but I learned.