Indians of the Plains

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Indians of the Plains Northwest Coast

• I. Location----------------?
• II. Way of Life
• 1. Nomadic Hunters
• a. Follow animal herds
• -depend upon Buffalo
• -meat food
• -fur shelter clothing
• -bones tools
• -waste fuel
• b. Farmers hunters

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b. Most famous Plains Indians

• -Souix
• -Cheyenne
• -Comanche
• c. Introduction of Horses
• -by Spanish (1600s)
• -easier to hunt Buffalo
• -improve Warriors self defense

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d. Decline of the Plains Indians

• -Settlers killed Buffalo for sport
• -Forced onto Reservations
• -by U.S. government

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III. Way of Life Northwest Coast Indians

• 1. Mild climate relaxed lifestyle
• 2. Villages
• a. On rivers or Pacific
• b. 8-10 large wooden houses
• -30-40 people / house
• -potlatch feast to
• demonstrate wealth
• c. Totem Poles
• -memorials of dead chiefs
• -family Coat of Arms

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3. Food Farms

• a. Tobacco main crop
• b. Food fish from Pacific and rivers
• -canoes, harpoons, and nets for fishing

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4. Decline of the N.W. Coast Indians

• a. Violent tribal wars
• b. Rigid social classes
• -Chief-Noble-Commoner-Slave
• -caused social revolts
• c. Diseases from European explorers