American Indian Culture

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to American Indian culture, including daily life, family roles, and religious practices, as well as academic terms.

Culture

The way of life of a group of people, including their art, language, ideas, beliefs, history, tools, and skills.

Custom

Ways of life that are repeated on a regular basis, based on tradition.

Tradition

A custom or belief that is passed on from one generation to the next.

Folklore

Traditional customs, beliefs, and stories.

Ancestor

A relative who lived in the past.

Descendant

Someone who is related to a person or group of people who lived in the past.

Aspect

A part of something (Academic Vocabulary).

Maintain

To keep something going or continuing without changing (Academic Vocabulary).

Animism

The belief held by some Indigenous groups that animals and the earth had spirits.

Kachinas

Spirits of natural forces (like sun, wind, and storms) or ancestors, sought for help and advice by Pueblo groups like the Hopi.

Shamans

Men and women in some Indigenous groups who were believed to have special religious powers.

Two-spirits

Individuals in some Indigenous groups believed to contain both male and female spirits and possess special knowledge or skills.

Folktales

Traditional stories passed on orally that share a group's history, customs, and traditions.

Green Corn Ceremony

A religious festival held by many Eastern Woodland groups to celebrate a good harvest and give thanks.

Potlatches

Big feasts held by groups in the Pacific Northwest to show a person's wealth and rank in the community.

Lacrosse

A ball game originated by Woodlands Indians, involving shooting a ball from a stick into a goal.

Bison

A rich resource to the Plains Indians that became an important part of their culture.