Ch 5 Native Americans

Majority of Native Population:

West of Mississippi River

5 Foods that Influenced American diet:

corns, beans, squash, maple syrup, cranberries, wild rice

Items and foods produced by Europeans

horses, firearms, metal, knives, diseases

melons, peaches, oranges, garlic, sugar cane

Indian Removal Act 1830

Indians east of Mississppi forced to move West

Limited resources, harsh winters

Illness, starvation, death

Trail of Tears, health implications

Indians removed from settlement

illness, starvation

BIA

Bureau of Indian affairs

Unsuccessfully attempted to culturally assimilate Native reservations

Strengthened religious beliefs of Natives

Employment program: promoted migration from reservations to major cities

Food groups recommended

Worldview Characteristics

Connection to nature (respect earth)

Harmony

Physical/social/emotional balance

Generosity

Discourages competitiveness

Present-oriented

No concept of land ownership

Religion and Family Structure

Religion specific to each tribe, rejected attempts at Christian conversion

Family:

Children highly valued

Respect elders

Many tribes are matrilineal

Health Beliefs and Pracitce

Relationship to Nature

Supernatural/spiritual

Don’t accept science

Food ingredient for medical purposes

What plant sources are used as medicine?

pumpkin, strawberry, agave leaves

Staple foods

corn, beans, squash

Adobe ovens

Preserve moisture

cornmeal bread

Indian-Self Determination Act of 1975

gave federally recognized tribes more power