Chapter 1 Native American Vocabulary

A type of ancient writing that uses pictures for words.

• Alphabet

• Hieroglyph

• Oral History

A special feast celebrated in the Pacific Northwest where guests receive gifts.

• Harvest

• Ceremony

• Potlatch

A group of families who share the same ancestors.

• Surplus

• Clan

• Potlatch

Flat topped cliffs with steep sides made from stone.

• Mesa

• Prairie

• Totem Pole

Religious celebration honoring spirits, gods, or beliefs.

• Surplus

• Slash-and-burn

• Ceremony

Stories that have been shared by word of mouth.

• Hieroglyphs

• Pictographs

• Oral History

A tall, carved log to honor an important person or represent a special event.

• Clan

• Mesa

• Totem Pole

To gather crops for use.

• Harvest

• Hunter-gatherer

• Slash-and-burn

Having more than you need.

• Confederacy

• Surplus

• Clan

Flat land covered mostly with grasses and wildflowers.

• Mesa

• Prairie

• Totem Pole