Southeastern Native Americans
Below the Ohio River, westward to the lower Missouri and south to Galveston Bay of Texas is the part of the United States that we live in.
SOME PRINCIPAL TRIBES OF THE SOUTHEAST REGION: Alibamu, Arkansas, Caddo, Catawba, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Natchez, Powhatan,
And Seminole
The environment for this group varied from flat land to mountenous regions.
The climate was warm to hot in the summer and cool to cold in the winter.
Most of these tribes were hunters, and gatherers. They lived in villages in which their homes were made of logs. They each had a structured government. From tribe to tribe different languages were spoken. Some tribes were friendly to each other. Some tribes did not. Of those who did know each other, there were wars and alliances.
The tribes had many things in common. They were artistic, clever people. They produced colorful art using natural dyes. They made baskets from natural fibers to haul food and store goods. They used shells to make really sharp knives. They created incredible beadwork.
These early people were great story tellers.
They were knowledgeable about herbs and natural medicines. Knowledge was handed down orally from one generation to the next.
These tribes grew corn, beans, and squash.
Each tribe was divided into a small number of clans. Clans were related people. When a baby was born, he or she belonged to the mother's clan.
Laws varied, but some laws were the same in all tribes. One such law was that you could not marry someone from your own clan.
The Southeast people believed in honor. They believed in many gods and goddesses,who were deities to whom they prayed in song and dance for help and guidance.
Let’s look at two different tribes and learn about how they were different.
The Muscogee (Creek): The Creek Indians lived in well- fortified villages. Each village was surrounded by a high wall of spiked logs. Each village had a tall pole in front of the entrance through the barricade. The pole was painted either red or white. This let everyone know if the village was a "red" village or a "white" village.
The red villages were the War Zones. War leaders lived in the red villages. In these towns, blood could be shed. Warriors came here to learn. Others came to live. Still others came for short periods to work out their differences.
The white villages were the Peace Zones. No one could be attacked in a white village. Everyone who lived in a white village had to promote peaceful solutions to all problems. If people could not solve their problems peacefully, they had to move to the red village while they worked things out.
Homes in both villages were log buildings of one or two rooms. Most had long porches that ran the length of the house. Roofs were thatched with long grasses. Mats were hung on the walls for color and warmth.
Each family had two houses in their village, one for the summer and for the winter.
The summer homes were airy and open. The winter homes were warm and solid.
The double house method not only made them comfortable, but it was a form of trickery. The Creek tricked other tribes into thinking they had more people in each village than there really were. All the houses, summer and winter, were built around a huge central plaza.
The Central Plaza was used for many purposes. Kids played there. The village council met there. They held special Ceremonies there. All anger had to be put aside when the Native Americans were in this special place.
The Chickasaw did not live in villages. They lived in small camps, scattered along rivers and waterways. They were hunters and gatherers. Because the men were hunting, and the women were gathering food, you might think the children had to work as well. They did not. Small children were free to help or to roam as they chose. Most girls chose to help. Most boys chose to roam.
Legend says ...Chickasaw women were never worried about their young warriors.
Even very small children were free to roam about all day with a tiny bow and arrow. Legend says they never got lost. From the time they were born, it was emphasized to Chickasaw children to always be aware of every leaf, to see each as a unique being. So they never got lost. They followed the leaves all the way home.
These Native Americans were the first to meet the explorers.