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Native American Societies

Introduction

Native Americans were the first groups of people to "discover America," and have in many ways made it what it is today. The perspective of history is often focused on how Europeans have used Native American contributions culture, rather than on what those contributions were.

Discussion

Evolution of an American Society

From the prior studies it has been seen that the United States was an evolved, diverse, and complex set of individual societies long before the Europeans arrived. Individually and collectively, these tribes have left legacies behind in nearly every aspect of life today. Consider these few of the many Native American contributions to what has become the United States. Agriculture and Food Europeans who arrived in the eastern part of what would become the United States were woefully unprepared for life in their new land. They brought with them only the traditional European practices of finding or growing food, techniques that were perfect for European weather and environment, but often inadequate for North America (Barbara, pp.45).

Native American Societies & People

Food

Native Americans taught early colonial settlers new ways to hunt and fish. For example, Native people used to catch the fish in net which were called weirs made up of reeds woven together The European ways of fish with large nets did not work well in smaller American streams and rivers. In addition, Native Americans hunted big animals such as deer, bear, and buffalo, mostly with bows and arrows. The Native methods and technology made it possible to hunt at all times. It is interesting to note a longstanding tradition among many Native Americans regarding hunting: Before right after killing an animal for food, the hunter gives thanks to the animal for providing its life so that the hunter and his family might live. This goes back directly to the continuing, deep connection between Native Americans and the natural world. Again in the colonial days, Native American cooking techniques were more effective than the traditional European methods colonists brought with them (Erasmus, pp.34-889).

Agriculture

The early history reflects the continuing contribution of Native knowledge to the field of agriculture. In recent times, while watching movies and eating popcorn, we are eating a product created by Native Americans. The list of other foods first domesticated (grown for cultivation) by Native Americans is a long one and includes more than 40 plants, including corn (or maize), white potato, pumpkins, squash, red peppers, peanuts, popcorn, peas, green beans, tomatoes, strawberries, and tobacco. Of the leading food crops grown all over the world, approximately 42 percent by weight is composed of three Native American crop corn, potatoes, and peanuts. Measured in dollar value, approximately 48 percent of the leading food an economic crop produced in the United States was first domesticated by Native Americans. We can also thank the Maya from what is today Central America for a very popular food from plants: chocolate. Beyond food crops, plants first domesticated by Native Americans include indigo, an important clothing dye; gourds, which were ...