B7 2016 ﻿US History: Improving Instruction of the Utah State Core. What can Native Americans Teach us?

Online WA Native Americans: Utah's State Social Studies Core should include a more comprehensive study of Native Americans

All teachers in the State of Utah, must use the Utah State Core to dictate what they will teach. The core requires educators to do the following when teaching Native Cultures
Explore life among the various American Indian nations prior to European exploration of the New World.
Identify the major regional American Indian nations of North America

Write a persuasive essay to an educator, school board member and/or legislator explaining why the teaching of Native Cultures must be included in the Utah State Core. Please follow the format provided on the webpage to prepare, write and publish your essay.

Native American Media & Podcasts

B7 2016 US History: Improving Instruction of the Utah State Core. What can Native Americans Teach us?

10/13/2016

28 Comments

The question you will address is posted above, the instructions are on the right. Please review both PRIOR to posting your completed essay.

28 Comments

Blake link

10/17/2016 10:57:32 am

landon nielson

10/17/2016 11:01:00 am

Do you know that there are still Native American are still alive today? The story of Native Americans help us with skills throughout life that will be used and show us how to live a more meaningful life. Natives taught us extremely important skills that we still use all the time today. The Native Americans have also taught us how to have a more rich and meaningful life. Over the many generations they have taught us many valuable lessons, in which we could not be not taught today.The Natives have done so much for us, and it it an honor to learn of their history and culture.

One of the many things the Natives have taught us is how to live a rich, and more meaningful life.They have also taught us to fight for what we believe in. To not let people or circumstances stand in your way. They have helped us to have the courage to believe in what ever religion you want to believe in, and to stand a fight for what you want. Also, they have brought down through generations their many cultures These cultures have richen the lives of many people. And they strongly still believe in it, and live it, and it creates more mutual respect among people.They have taught us skills that can’t be taught,but only by the natives that believe and live it.

The Native people are wise and have taught us life skills and how to use them. They have taught us not to be wasteful, to use everything in some way or another. They have taught us to hunt animals, and to use every part of an animal, and to be able and creative on using parts of an animal in an extremely useful way. A great example of this is the Whale, and how to use every part of it. The natives would use the Whale not only for a source of food, they would use their bones for the structure of a home. They would use their skin to shelter their home. They taught us how to hunt for food, how to plant and grow food, and how to prepare food using the resources of the land. If it wasn't for the Native people we may not know how to plant corn, or prepare crops. And to know what is safe to eat, or what not to eat.The taught life skills that we can never lose, and they taught us how to survive. Building homes, making bow and arrows are just a few of the skills they taught us.

Through generations, the Native Americans have brought down many valuable lesson that we cannot forget about. These skills have to still be taught, and we can't just lose it all. They have a long history with many stories that can't be forgotten. People to this day still use and learn the value of them. Also, today people are still living in their tribes, and their religions people want to know about the history, and want to keep it alive, and want to know what happened long ago and how we learned and got all that we have today. For generations the Natives lessons and stories have been brought down generations.

The history of the Native Americans are amazing. Native American have taught how to live a more rich and a more meaningful life, they have taught us life skills and survival skills. They have shared many life lessons through their stories. If it wasn’t for the knowledge and history of the Native people,we would not be living the way we live today. The Native Americans are a big part of our history, and you can’t just take that history away. It will always exist, and should be

Grace Meservy

10/17/2016 02:28:15 pm

Dear Common Core State representative:
Thank you for helping shape our curriculum into a better learning situation, and for taking the time to read this. And thank you for considering my opinion on the value of learning about native cultures.

Native Americans were and are an advanced and complex people, and it would be criminal not to include them in our school curriculum. They have valuable stories and beliefs that we can learn from and reflect on today. They have advanced and meaningful lifestyles that are both intriguing and informational. And most noticeable, but also most overlooked, Is that the Native Americans have left a resounding impact on past and present america, even after many of their cultures and people have faded.

Native Americans have valuable stories and beliefs. In many origin stories, the native people are descended from beings of the sky. This has a significance that leaves many bewildered, but really, it is quite straightforward. If you believe in a heaven-like utopia and an all-powerful being or assorted deities, then it is a similar idea, because most divine association is with heaven, or the sky. We want to be of the sky, or more like our divine beings, and so do the Native Americans. It is not odd or strange or even wrong to be descended from the great sky chief and his wife, like the Onandaga on turtle’s back, or descended from the the eggs of a great and powerful Thunderbird, Like the Clatsop-Nehalem Chinook. And there is nothing wrong in being brought into existence through the efforts of the birds and sky animals, like the Cherokee. Once you take that step back to look at a bigger picture, You may see that we are all the same.

The Native Americans have diverse and meaningful lifestyles. Many people have skewed stereotypes or even hurtful ideas about who the natives were, are, or will become. If when you hear the words “Native American” You picture some skinny guy in braids and a loincloth atop a pinto horse riding around a camp of tepees, then you are clinging to some serious stereotypes. There is only one culture out of 520 different cultures that even used tepees. The tepee was a way to be nomadic. Before Europeans started to settle, All native Americans lived in permanent homes. The Iroquois league, for example, lived in longhouses; oblong, multi-family units made of wood, Whilst the Pueblo and southwest people lived in Adobe homes, houses made of layers of clay and mud. Both of these examples are permanent homes and neither ever used tepees. The only region of Native Americans who used tepees were the Plains people, who followed the herds of buffalo across the great vast prairie. The clothing and hair styles varied from region to region, but a loincloth was not substantial covering for the swamp region with saw grass, or the Inuit region of ice. One Iroquois tribe had a hairstyle still used today: the Mohawk.

The native People left a resounding impact on America both in the past, and the present, Even after a majority of the original population is gone. At the slaughter of wounded knee, a group of selfish cowards who were soldiers captured a peaceful tribe who had no hostility and herded them into a valley. They forced the peaceful tribe to get out all their weapons and give them up, holding them at gunpoint as they did so. Then the soldiers rummaged through their belongings and took many simple household items, like sewing needles and cooking knives. Then they opened fire and massacred those innocent people. They killed them. For absolutely no reason. Can we look back on that slaughter and see a learning opportunity? If we don’t see one, there is no purpose in human life and conflict. And when the United States was barely being explored, who led Lewis and Clark? Sacagawea did, of course. She guided through rivers and mountain passes, and helped map out a great chunk of the US. She was an interpreter and peacemaker. Clark raised her son. And who saved the pilgrims from death when they did not know how to farm? Squanto and his Pawtuxet tribe, who taught the pilgrims agriculture and survival skills. These Native Americans are some of the first sculptors of this country. Why can’t we respect that? Because we are under-educated.

If you still think the natives were savage brutes, think about it like this: guess how many Native Americans we killed with disease before we even settled america? Ninety-six percent of five hundred and twenty nations that had once thrived, some 54 million people. Who killed in fear when innocent citizens were practicing religion? The European settlers. Who had advanced cities and governmental systems? The Native Americans.

I’m not saying the Native Americans were perfect. They weren’t. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn from them. The only way we can avoid leaving this great people ignored and dismissed is by learning about them. They have similar values to us, and even wha

Aubrey

10/18/2016 03:15:22 pm

Once the Natives could live in peace, and then europeans came and there was no more freedom for them. Once Native Americans could hunt for food and have plenty, but when europeans came they had to find other food. How did they find joy? How did the Native Americans survive in a world of fear not knowing what was going to happen to them?Native Americans showed how to be happy while adapting to a new country. The architecture of the Native Americans is outstanding! They built homes to withstand just about natural disaster in North America. Natives taught us what food grows best and where and how to grow it. These people found joy when most people couldn’t. When tragedy strikes these Native Americans found happiness.
The Native Americans have given us ideas on what to build and how to build it. In the south-west, native people were building 5 story houses made out of adobe! This shows how to use your resources, even in the desert. Well, what about the Inuit people? The Inuit people lived up in Alaska and made igloos when on the move, but they built permanent houses as well. The house’s outline was whale bone, and then covered with dirt to withstand the snow and blizzards. These people also found joy wherever they lived and when. Native Americans used lots of natural resources, but what they didn’t do is waste them. These people were happy because they had what they needed. They could build homes, eat well, and overall be happy.
Native people taught us how to grow certain foods such as: corn, beans and squash. That was crucial to the pilgrims when they first arrived, they didn’t know what grows here and how to grow it. That’s when the Native Americans stepped in and helped them. In the eastern woodlands the native people grew mainly beans and corn. Plus Native Americans were WAY healthier than the europeans. The Native Americans knew what came into season and when. These people knew when to grow corn and beans and all types of food. When the cold season came they still had fun and joy. They could be put through a lot and still find happiness.
There were Natives living almost everywhere in North America. The Native people found out how to not just live, but how to thrive. The North West-coastal had to know how to catch different fish. They had to use different methods to catch different fish. The Plains indians were the most recent and they were forced from their homes. They came from almost everywhere and had to adapt to living in the plains where they were always on the move. They had to invent a mobile home when they had to move from the europeans. But in all of those trails they still could find gladness and delightfullness, even when they were forced to go into schools, and different places. The Native Americans were still grateful for their belongings and families, they were thankful for the place they live in, even if it was in a school. They could still find even the slightest of joy, even when tragedy strikes.
The Native Americans helped us to learn what is best to build with, and we still do use the ways that they taught us. We have even improved their ways to build even better structures, but we could not have made them if it weren’t for the Native Americans giving us the ideas. What did the Natives teach us about food? They taught us how to grow corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, and so much more. We still use these foods even today, we couldn’t have done it without the Native Americans. These people have taught us so much that we can learn from. The Native Americans have showed how to live in any environment. There are Americans who live in the freezing temperatures in Alaska, and in the scorching desert of Arizona, but we were doomed without the Native Americans by our side. The Native Americans were here before we were. They showed us how to survive when we we came to a different place. Native Americans served us in helping us to survive, now we can serve them by teaching schools about them and how they helped us adapt to a new place with new surroundings, and with new faces. We can show respect to them by letting them live normal lives and not having to worry about what is going to happen to them or their families. There is no U.S. history without Native Americans, there is no school without teachers, there is no family without parents.

Kyle Marchbanks

10/18/2016 06:00:09 pm

Many people think that all Native Americans were ruthless savages that used tomahawks and wore feathers, and that’s just not right. Native Americans are in reality, a very complex and intelligent people that we can learn from. Native Americans lived in America long before European settlers ever came here, and they have shaped America into what it is today. If we don’t learn about them, we will be missing an opportunity to better improve ourselves. Native Americans had their own religion, were resourceful, and used their environment, and even had a complex government system similar to ours today.
Native Americans have their own religions, which they use to explain the world. Each tribe have different beliefs, although all of them believe there is a superior being. For example, take the Onondaga’s story of creation. They believed that all men used to live in the clouds, where a single tree grew. The chief of the sky people’s wife was pregnant, and she had a dream that the tree was uprooted. The chief and his men uprooted the tree, but the chief’s wife fell through the hole left by the tree. Below the sky land was a continuous ocean, where all of the animals lived. Two swans saw the woman falling, so they went and broke her fall, but they saw that she would not be able to survive in the ocean. All of the animals talked, until they decided that they would have to bring earth up for her to survive, so all of the animals tried until muskrat brought Earth up and put it on turtle’s back. This is how the Onondaga tribe believed the earth was created, and they call earth “Turtle Island” because of this. Other tribes believe that there were six people in the beginning that traveled through a reed between worlds until they found this one. These stories both explain how the tribes believe the earth was created and how we came here, as well as some occasional things about animals or the landscape. Many tribes danced around fires and sacrificed animals for their religion, and others had totem poles which represented their ancestors, such as the Northwest Coastal Indians. They also were very loyal to their religion, and politely declined the Spanish and Dutch missionaries.
Another thing we can learn from them is how to be resourceful, as they used everything around them to their advantage. For example, they hunted using baits and traps that wouldn’t work if they had a different environment, such as the desert. They used everything from what they killed. They would use the bones, meat, and pelts of animals for their homes, food, clothing, and more. They didn’t let anything go to waste. They also ate the native berries and crops that weren’t poisonous, and made a lifestyle from it. Sometimes they could survive for months off of crops alone. Some used only dirt to make their homes, or they dug out their homes. I think that people today can learn how to be more resourceful and conservative, just as these Natives were.
Many people think that the Natives were feral, savage animals that we were superior to, but that is simply not true. They were as advanced as we were, just in different ways. For example, some tribes had different political districts, and were voted into positions of authority, but others had chiefs that kept everyone in check. The chiefs weren’t treated much better than the people in the tribe, so they weren’t like royalty. Another thing that the natives did was figure out how to have fires indoors, house multiple families (in long houses, like the Northwest Coastal Indians), and stay warm during the winter. I would say that this is an advancement that animals wouldn’t have been able to do. They also made clothing, and didn’t just wear loincloths like how media portrays it. If it was cold where they lived, such as with the Inuit, they had multiple layers of clothing, but if it was very hot where they lived such as for the Southwest Indians, they had thin garments.
Native Americans are a very large part of our history, and they have given us a lot we can learn from. They taught us how we can be loyal to religion, how we can be resourceful, and how we can survive. If we do not learn about this portion of our nation’s history, it will be centuries of history lost and we will miss a huge opportunity to be a better people today.

Aimee Hunt

10/18/2016 09:02:33 pm

Have you ever thought about being a Native American? How would you live? What would you believe in? How would you feel if your story never got taught? Even though the Native Americans are a big part of American history, people are talking about taking them out of the history lessons, so people won't learn them. The true story of the Native Americans, must be taught because it is very important in everyone's lives. First, the Natives lived and taught important life lessons that everyone can learn from. Second, they used what they had and were thankful for everything. Third, they shaped the United States of America, into what it is today.

The Native Americans taught and lived important life lessons for everyone to learn from. All of the Native American stories have a life lesson infused inside of it. Anyone can learn from these stories. The stories are so simple and easy to understand, but they are also so complex that you have to ponder the meanings and how they can help you in your life. A good example of a story that is so simple but complex is “How Owl Got Round Eyes”. It tells about the creation of animals and how they got specific characteristics that are individual and how the creator came to earth and asked how they would like to look and be and granted it to them. Then the story goes on to tell about how owl was watching the creator when he specifically told the animals not to look as he used his magic to alter the outer appearance of others. The story says that when owl looked and saw the creator using his magic, his eyes became wide and large for everyone to see. In this story the Native Americans taught others how not to be greedy during our lives. This is just one of many amazing Native American stories. The Native Americans taught the early Americans, the Pilgrims, how to grow food for winter. The history of the Pilgrims is only one of the many examples about how the Native Americans have taught others. Another story Native American’s taught was about two brothers and a kind woman. In the story, Loowit the fire keeper, tells about two brothers and how they were always fighting and going to war with each other. Finally, after the two brothers were getting men together to fight for what they thought was theirs, the creator picked them up and dropped them in a new part of the land near a river. The creator gave them each one bow and one arrow and told them to fire the arrow into the air and whichever side of the river the arrow landed on was their land. So the older brother aimed his arrow into the air and fired. His arrow flew and landed on one side of the river. Then the younger brother fired his arrow and received the land on the other side of the river. Then the creator build a bridge and said that they could be thankful for what they had and could trade and travel to the other side of the river whenever they wanted as long, as they were peaceful with each other. So the brothers had many peoples in their lands and prospered for years in their own lands. Then one day, the brothers got jealous of one another’s land. They each thought the others land was better, so they sought to take it from the other. They each prepared for war. The Creator thought, “We can’t be having a war now.” He used his power and took away fire and light leaving only cold darkness for the people to live in. After a few days of no heat or light, the brothers went to the Creator and promised they wouldn’t fight if the Creator gave them back fire and light. The Creator decided that their word was good enough. He asked Loowit, a kind, faithful, humble, woman who still retained fire, that if she was willing to share anything with anyone, she would stand on the bridge and share the fire with everyone who came by. She stayed on the bridge for days giving the light to everyone who came by. Then one day when the brothers came for their fire they both thought that Loowit looked beautiful and they each wanted her for their wife. Once again, the brothers went to war over who would marry Loowit. The Creator came once again to the brothers and turned them into mountains so they couldn’t fight anymore. But they still threw rocks back and forth between each other. Loowit went to the Creator and asked if she could become a mountain between the brothers so they wouldn’t fight. The Creator made her into Mount Saint Helens. The eruption of Mount Saint Helens happened because the people got too greedy over land. She erupted in 1980 to remind the people to not be greedy. This story reminds us to not be greedy, and not to fight over anything.

The Native Americans used what they had and were thankful for it , teaching us to be thankful, and not use up our resources. Chief Sealth once said, “The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth” Native Americans understand that life is a delicate thing and that things don't last forever. To show an understanding of this

Gentrie Andersen

10/19/2016 10:47:41 am

Gentrie Andersen

Native Americans taught us and still continue to teach us how to live a more meaningful life and how to survive better. For example, they showed us how to adapt to any environment. That fighting for what we believe in is okay and a good thing to do. Lastly, the study of Native people showed us what they invented for us to use in our daily lives. As you can see the Native Americans can teach us so many different things so we should always thank them for the many things they did for us.

Natives showed us how they adapted to any environment. They made certain homes that would protect them from the harsh weather. One of their homes they made was a dome shaped house so that the wind would go around it and not blow over. Another thing was that they wore certain clothes that would keep them warm from the environment. The natives would even kill animals for their warm fur. Lastly they would grow and kill things to use for food. In one of their unique stories they would kill a whale and use every single part of it for food and other resources. The Native people had many unique ways they adapted to their environment.

Native people taught us what they invented for us to use in our daily lives. One example is that they invented a way to make baskets or things to carry stuff in. They would use things from the things from the ground and would sew them together, some tribes even became famous for it. They also found ways to travel other than just by walking by their feet. So they made wagons for people to sit on and would trade off of pulling each other. Last but not least they made different types of housing. One of the many houses they had some tribes would use a tree for the foundation of the house so that when there was bad weather the roots of tree would keep the house from not blowing away. We don't use all of these inventions today but we are still very thankful for the Natives teaching us the things we need to know.

The Native Americans would always fight for what/who they believe in no matter the cost so we should always remember that. Most people stereotype that Native people are very violent people but they truly are not. No matter who you are everyone will always fight and keep fighting until people respect who you truly believe in. Native people had very many religious stories that they believed in what happened. In all of these stories there was different morals (in other words what the story was trying to teach us), without Natives being religious we would’ve never been able to learn the different morals about their stories. When the Native Americans fought for what they thought was right they taught us to do the same. So we should be able to learn from their mistakes at the same time too. Without us knowing about their religious mistakes we would just keep making the same ones over and over again and we would never fix them. As you can see the Native people and their religion is very important to our lives today.

The Natives need to be taught to everyone because without learning about them we would not be the same person that we are today. For example they taught us how to survive in any harsh environment. They taught us the many things they invented for us to use in our daily lives. Lastly, they taught us to always keep believing in who we worship and fight for it. In conclusion, the Native Americans will always be a part of each individual's life and we will always remember the many things they taught us to survive and live more important lives!

Jayden Marcon

10/19/2016 11:46:46 am

Do you know how important it is to learn the true story of Native Americans? The Native Americans taught us and continue to teach us how to live richer more meaningful lives. For example, they taught us to use our resources and surroundings wisely, they teach us many lessons from their incredibly amazing stories, and they have shaped who we are today in many ways. It is very important that we learn about Native Americans for these reasons and many others.

Native Americans taught us to use our resources and surroundings wisely. They used their agricultural knowledge to keep their environment rich by planting beans with corn to put nitrogen back into the ground. They also used their surroundings to make their homes. For example, if they lived by wood they would build their houses out of wood, others used ice, trees, sticks, mud, etc. They also taught us to not waste any of our resources or surroundings. Just like how they used every bit of the whale and bison for something. For example, the meat they would eat, the skin could be used for clothes and other things, they could use the bones for weapons or carve them into toys, etc.

Native Americans still teach us many lessons from their amazing stories. One lesson is that everything happens for a reason, I learned this from the incredible story “How rabbit got long ears and owl got round eyes”, but there are other stories that teach you this. The story of Wounded Knee teaches us to get along in the future. All the amazing stories teach us something very important overall, which is to fight for what we believe in. Native Americans all have their own beliefs and stuck with them, they shared these stories and many still believe in them today.

Native Americans have shaped who we are today. They have shaped us politically, culturally, and religiously. Some Native Americans came up with the branch system (Judicial, Legislative, and Executive) which we use still use today. They shaped us culturally by using their smarts on building homes and farming. Including, their underground irrigation system that helped them grow crops. They taught us to fight for what we believe in and to respect others beliefs in the religious area, when we learn about others beliefs we tend to have more respect for those who believe differently than we do.

As you can see, the Native Americans true story is very important to learn about because they taught us to use our resources and surroundings wisely, they teach us many lessons through their amazing stories, and they have shaped who we are today in many ways. I have learned more things about Native Americans throughout this unit than I have ever known, which has really helped me get rid of their stereotypes. Including feathers in their hair, living in tepees, and riding horses. So these are some of the incredible reasons we need to learn about Native Americans.

Blake

10/19/2016 11:54:27 am

Have you ever thought about the hundreds of Native American people killed for what they believed in? So do you really know who the Native Americans really were? Well if you didn’t know, the first people in America were the Native Americans. Without them our world would be so different. If you don’t know why, well i'm going to tell you. Without the Natives we wouldn’t have known how to grow crops and know our way around the land. They teach us how not to be wasteful and use or resources wisely. The last thing i’m going to teach you about is that they would fight for what they believe in no matter what.
Without the Natives we wouldn’t know how the grow crops. Before Columbus came to America the Natives had much healthier diets, they had proteins, nutrients and less sugar. The Native Americans showed us how to grow crops, such as beans, squash, corn, potatoes and more. Native Americans also found out that corn destroyed the topsoil making the ground useless. So what they did for a compromise, is that they would plant corn than squosh around the corn, than on the ground under the ground so in theory the soil wouldn’t get ruined because beans send nitrogen back into the ground.
Next thing that you should know is that the Native Americans weren’t wasteful, they used everything they had wisely. First example, say they were to kill a whale (Inuit tribe) they would use every little part of the body. They would make homes out of the bones, they would use the fat for fuel , eat the meat, and use the skin for cloths. Next they were grateful for what they had. If they kill a whale on the way back they would be praying to the gods thanking them for their blessing.
They Would fight anyone or anything for there religion. It is amazing that after everyone telling them that their religion was wrong. But no matter what they would stay with their religion and not get persuaded. To them their beliefs were the only one’s that were true. The would listen to other people but there religion was the only one that was true.
Thus we see that without the Native Americans we wouldn’t know how to grow crops. Also wouldn’t know how to not be wasteful and respectful for what we have. The last thing is that they teach us to fight in for what we believe in. Thus we see that the Native Americans are very important to learn about, so this planet doesn't get sucked up of all it’s resources.

Blake Chappell

10/19/2016 11:56:09 am

Oakley Rhoades

10/19/2016 01:37:33 pm

“Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we can’t eat money.” - unknown native American quote. Native Americans were and still are a diverse and important part of American history that everyone needs to learn about.They have many important things we can learn from them. First, there were an estimated 520 different Native American cultures. Second, natives contributed many important things we still use today in our daily lives. Many people probably don't even realize how many great things the native americans have contributed. Third,their stories teach us many great life lessons that are important to learn and talk about. This is why natives were such an important, rich part of our American history that needs to be taught.

There were an estimated 520 different cultures. They were not all the same and their whole cultures widely varied. There's the stereotype that all natives lived in tipis, had braids, and rode horses. This is false. Natives had different houses, foods, lifestyles and much more. Each culture was and still is different and diverse. Native Americans had different religions with different gods and belief systems. There are the ghost dances of the plains culture, the totem pole beliefs of the northwest coastal culture, many cultures were religiously tied to their environment and the animals. They had deep beliefs that are still believed today. The natives are also very diverse because they lived in different parts of America. It is commonly believed that natives only lived in the plains that is also false. There were the eastern woodland people, the California people, the northwest people, the plains people and many other different tribes were spread all throughout America.

The natives contributed many important things that we still use today in our daily lives. They contributed a lot to the medical field. They were able to come up with an early type of syringe, they were able to perform brain surgeries and this was pre Columbus. Their medical knowledge was much more advanced than many other people around the world at that time and when the English came to America they were able to share that knowledge with them. They contributed a lot to agriculture. They knew how to keep the soil rich and healthy, they were able to come up with ways to grow better food, they were able to hybridize corn and potatoes.These were all big steps in bringing us the agricultural knowledge we have today. The natives also invented many important things. Like, the game lacrosse, a type of gum, a type of pest control and many more maybe small but important things. That's how the natives contributed many important things that we use still today in our daily lives.

Their stories teach us many great life lessons that are important to learn. They deeply believed their religions and didn't let anyone take that away from them. Like with the wounded knee genocide. They were murdered because they didn't change but they still, even after what happened held on to their culture and what they believed. The whole, true story of the native Americans teaches us to respect other types of people. Once again, the wounded knee genocide was a terrible thing that happened. Although it was terrible it showed that people shouldn't be punished because they're different.After what happened many people realized it’s wrong to treat people so badly. Lastly the stories they would tell of creation and other things had many great morals. There's Sedna, loowit, and many other stories.They were not only sometimes fun, and exciting but they taught many life lessons that can and should still be taught today.

In conclusion you can hopefully clearly see how important the Native Americans were and why they deserve to be talked about. First, there were an estimated 520 different cultures pre columbious. Next, the natives contributed many important and advanced inventions. Third, and probably most importantly the natives taught us to fight for what we believe in and not to give up and throw away our cultures and beliefs. The natives were such a powerful and important culture in America’s history and they still are. They didn’t depend on things like money and the government. They used their resources and what was around them to build a rich, unique culture that still affects everyone today. Just because something has happened in the past or it doesn’t directly affect you as a person, doesn’t mean it should be forgotten and lost in time!

Skiley Cluff

10/19/2016 01:47:33 pm

Skiley Cluff
B7
October 19, 2016

What the natives did to make us be us today. We need to keep learning about Native Americans! Here are my reasons why! The things the natives did back then to make us today. How amazing and brave they were. And how interesting they were.

They things the natives did back then to help us now, and shape us today. They used all their resources very wisely. Example, when they would go and kill the whales they would use every little thing of that whale. From the Brains and organs, to the bones, and skin. Not one thing was not used. The Natives would use the whale for many things. Such as, homes, and clothing. How they hunted for food. They way they were so brave to hunt for Bison and whales is incredible!! Hunting for the whales on the small boats. The natives would tie a rope around their wastes, and the though the spear in the water right at the wale. The real scary thing is these whales can go down really deep into the water. Because the whales are so big! I would not want to do that! That is why the natives are very brave. The land, and wars that were fought for. If the Natives didn't fight in the wars, we would be having wars night now. Yes we do still have wars, but we would be fighting a lot more if the Natives wouldn't have of fought wars.

How amazing and brave the Natives were! They were so brave to be going in the oceans, going into the herd of bison to hunt them. The Natives are brave for doing the things they had to, to stay alive! Once when there was a very bad sickness going around the Natives stayed up dumbing, dancing! One by one they would drop on the ground dying, and they would still dance around! How the Natives supported their families! Hunting, and shelter. Those are two very hard things to do. If you don't hunt, and get the things to build your homes you won't have shelter. When you don't have shelter, it will be harder to stay warm. When you can't stay warm, then you start dying. If you don't go get food, then you will starve. The Inuit’s smartness! The Inuit’s were very smart to be using whale's skin for clothing. They used Whale skin for clothing, because it was waterproof! Smart right! They lived in houses made of wood, and whalebones with walrus skins for the roof, and sides! When traveling throughout the region for hunting or trading, the Inuit built temporary homes made of blocks of snow or ice commonly known as igloos. The Inuit lived in the harshest environment on earth. But they still learned to adapt to it!

The Natives are very interesting.
The way they built their homes, and how smart it was! The Plains tribes, the movable tipi was the dwelling of choice. These structures consisted of a peaked pole frame covered with bison skin. The California Natives houses consisted of a round frame covered with grass. There was a skylight in the roof. The Northwest Indians lived in Longhouses. Inuit Indians lived in houses made of wood, and whalebones. The Southwest Culture these tribes differed in the crops they farmed, the style of housing from stone, to mud, grass huts, and occasional tipis for those who had to travel throughout the region to sustain themselves. The things the native believed in. The four worlds. This is an amazing story! It's about the natives getting into a flower and traveling to the world's. The flower grew up to the second world. But the cat people were already there!! They fought cat people for a very long time. Then the flower grew up to the third world. Coyote stole river monsters baby! River monster got mad and flooded the third world! The flower grew up to fourth world! That is where the natives lived. The Natives got married and already starting a family at age 16! Crazy right!? There's a story about Pocahontas. She was to marry a man and have children. She married this man to become allies with. Very smart idea!

And those were my three reasons why we need to keep learning about Native Americans! They are very smart, and they still teach us how to live today! If I didn't learn about them I wouldn't know much! I am so thankful for learning about them. The Native Americans are very interesting, and I would want my kids to learn about them. Thanks to Ms. Ness I have learned so much about the Native Americans. If we have History the Native Americans are apart of our History. We can't leave this huge chunk out!

Mataya Hugh

10/19/2016 02:16:49 pm

The Native Americans helped enrich us in multiple ways that still help us to this day. The Native Americans first of all taught us how to survive on this beautiful land we live on today.They also shaped and kind of created part of our diet and some of our clothing. Also they reminded us to be grateful and have gratitude for everything we get or already have and to not be ungrateful. Did you know that Native people still teach us valuable things to this day.

The Native people taught us to survive on this land. They taught us how to grow certain plants. For example like when the pilgrims came along they weren’t sure how to plant certain foods so the Natives helped and taught them how to in the good soil. Also they taught us how to make medicines and where to find the ingredients. Like when people would pass through indian territory and someone was sick they would make medicine for them. Finally the Natives taught us the how to hunt with their weapons and where the best hunting places are. Like when the Pilgrims came the natives showed them all there hunting strategies. So they did help us survive on this beautiful land.

The Native Americans helped shape our healthy diet. They taught us how to make healthy herbs and spices to go on our food. For example when they were preparing the thanksgiving feast the Native women helped the Pilgrim women make the spices and herbs to go on the food. They also taught us many ways to make clothing in unusual ways. All the tribes make their clothing differently but some do it the way we do it today except for they did it by hand. And lastly they taught us to be healthier. They didn’t have the junk food we have today, they planted their foods and planted them in healthy soil and other things. So they did helped us develop our healthy diet.

They reminded us how to have gratitude for everything we get or have and not to be ungrateful . First of all they taught us to use everything we have and not to waste it. Like when they get a bison they use every part of it they do not trash and piece of the buffalo, every piece of the bison has a use. Also they taught us to give thanks for anything we get or already have. The Natives give thanks for all they have because they are grateful. Another thing they taught us is be happy for everything you get. The Native Americans were never ungrateful for what they got or they have. They sure did teach us that we need to give thanks even though it’s not Thanksgiving we can be like the natives and be grateful.

The Native Americans helped enrich us in so many ways that still help us to this day. So they taught us how to survive on this beautiful land that we live on this day. And they helped us create our healthy diet. Finally they reminded us to be more grateful for everything we get and for everything we already have. The Natives taught us and did so much for us in so many ways. They helped the Pilgrims figure out stuff and they also helped the Pioneers. So without the Natives the Pilgrims wouldn’t had known how to survive and do the things the Natives taught them. The Natives did so many important things for us that need to be called out and need to be appreciated for. So without the Indians who knows what could had happened.

William Ormond

10/19/2016 02:26:46 pm

Everyone needs to learn about Native Americans because they are a resourceful people who we must learn from. They have so much to offer, but yet they have faced injustice after injustice since Europeans came. Removing them from the list of things that must be taught in history classes would mean their culture will be forgotten, lost in the ignorance of the uninformed. This essay is about why their culture and technology would benefit the rest of society.

Firstly, Natives are able to adapt to any environment. The Eastern coastal Natives used saplings with their tops tied to the ground to create hurricane-proof homes. This was because they lived in an area with frequent storm activity. The Inuit Natives used the bones of whales that they ate to create underground homes. Plains Natives created movable homes called Tipis to escape diseases that had ravaged their societies. Natives living in the deserts of modern New Mexico created underground homes to escape the heat, which they eventually converted into churches for their own religion. Even the most extreme environments were tamed by native cultures.

Secondly, Natives were extremely good at using what they have to the fullest. Plains culture believed in the idea of using every part of the bison they killed for religious reasons, and to survive in the harsh lands of the Great Plains. Inuit culture practiced something similar, using the whales that they caught for many things, such as whale oil, meat, and the bones as support for their homes. They lived next to rivers for transport, water, fish, and crafting materials for pottery and weaving. They are a group of cultures that knew how to survive with what they had, and this is something our own culture could use.

Lastly, Natives are extremely resourceful groups of people. One example of their brilliance is the idea of growing corn and beans on the same plot of land. Corn sucks nutrients out of the ground faster than any other crop, and bean plants put those nutrients back. This means that crops could be grown on the land forever. Another example would be the fact that even though 96% of Native people died at one point, the 4% that survived went on to create their own nomadic culture that was unique from the others. They even survived numerous attempts at genocide by the United States government. There are far too many of these attempts, unfortunately, such as the massacre at wounded knee, or the infamous trail of tears. Despite this, many native cultures survive today, continuing their traditions that they have practiced for generations.

In conclusion, Natives could tame any environment, survive on little, and overcome any obstacle put in front of them. They shouldn’t be forgotten, and deserve to be remembered forever.

Makenzie Cluff

10/19/2016 02:31:30 pm

It is a necessity to learn about the natives. If we don’t, their true stories are gone forever. Other stereotypes could develop if the truth is no longer existent. Today, we need to pay attention to the things that we could learn from the native’s ways of survival. Their stories contain the evolution of many things that we still use today. The native’s lives could, for the better, highly affect how we live our lives today. The Native Americans had their ups and downs just like us. The only difference is that they had it a lot harder than what we deal with in our lives. They didn’t have all of the special cures to their illnesses, they only had what they made and experimented with.

If the true stories about the natives are no longer existent, fake stereotypes about them could develop. Much like stereotypes about current humanity, many stereotypes about natives exist. Many people believe that natives had no religion and weren’t religious at all. Once again, this stereotype is incorrect. The native people had many religions. Most of their old religions were not known religions. Natives had their own religious systems. Today, almost all of those religions don’t exist. All of their past religions have been forgotten because they were never taught to anyone. Before I learned about Native Americans I thought all indians were the same much like most people think today. I quickly learned that there were six very different groups of indians. Each group is very unique in their own way. For example, the Inuit tribe was adapted to the cold and the Eastern Woodland people were adapted to the hot. This was because they lived in very different places and have a very different clothing choice. People today also believe that Native Americans were very warlike. Almost all of the time, all the Native tribes were doing was protecting what they believed in. The Natives weren’t any more warlike than Asians, Africans, or Europeans. If someone were to come into your home and start taking the things that were the most precious to you, you would probably do the same thing. We can’t just assume things about the Natives until we have learned their true stories.

Today we can learn much from the survival of the Natives. Our homes today were built to withstand the weather, as were the native’s. The Eastern Woodland people lived in a place with very extreme wind. To prevent their houses from getting destroyed, they made them dome shaped. The dome shape prevented the wind from knocking it down. Insead, the wind would just move around it. They also used trees as the foundation for their house. They would make their house out of a growing tree by bending it into a dome shape and staking it to the ground. This would allow their homes to stay in the ground and not blow away. Some of the way that indians survived back then isn’t even legal to humans today. For example, the Inuit people hunted whale in their time to stay alive. Today, they are the only people allowed to hunt whale. The Inuit used every piece of the whale. They didn’t let any piece of the whale go to waste. This teaches us that we need to be grateful for everything that we have, especially because we have it a lot more than they did. One very popular thing that is still done today is hunting. Almost every indian had to hunt in order to get food. The indians also had to hunt a lot bigger game with smaller and less effective weapons. We should be very lucky that we have more upgraded weapons to hunt with. This should also teach us that the indians were very dedicated and hardworking so we should try to be like them.

The Native’s stories contain the evolution of many things that we still use today. A few of the items that we currently use were originally from the Native people. For example, syringes, they made syringes using small bird bones and small, cleaned out, bladders. They are also the reason that we have large and healthy crops today. An ear of corn used to be the size and an average sized pinkie and the potato used to be the size of a tooth. Can you imagine eating a bite sized potato? I would much rather have the large ones that you can put in the oven and later cover in butter! Some of our medical needs even evolved from the indians. Somehow they figured out a way to perform brain surgery on people. They also made many medicines to try and heal the sick.

Now you know why we should tell their true stories about their many adventures, so they don’t get all mixed up and changed to how others want to believe things happened. We can also learn much from their survival techniques. Last but not least is that some of the items we have and still use today have just evolved from what the indians did. The Native’s lives were very important and many of the things that they did could strongly impact our lives for the worse or the better.

Ali Derrick

10/19/2016 02:39:34 pm

The true history of Native Americans needs to be continually taught to us today. Because of Native American history we learn about how they adapted to the environment. They have created many resources for us to use today. Because of their stories of bravery, they showed how to fight for not only their beliefs but also our own.

Because of their ability to adapt to their environment we can have a better understanding of our environment. Many different Native American tribes lived all over the United States some all the way up to Alaska, all the way down to the Sierra Nevadas. Because many of the Natives had different environments this did not only affect them but also what clothing they wore, what food they could find, and what shelter and protection they had to block off whatever climates they had to endure. The Native American tribe known as the California Indians lived along the Pacific Coast. The Natives who lived in California lived in communities that had ranged up to as many as 2,000 homes. The Natives did not live in tipis the climate they lived and the hot hot sun would destroy the tipi. Instead they lived in round homes with a frame covered in grass. They had a skylight in the roof, and the beds were made of skin covered frames each room with a partition for privacy. In the center they would have cook fire for the food they caught such as fish, seeds, nuts, and other smaller foods. The California Indians had climates that consisted of warm hot and sunny temperatures. If the California Indians lived in hot animals furs they would overheat so they have adapted to their climates. The stereotype of an Indian is braids, rode on horses, and lived in tipis. Well none of that is true only the Plains Indians lived in tipis. And many Natives did not get horses till later in the century.

Natives have created many resources for us to use today. They used their resources very wisely. Many indians lived in different climates and environments and they would use that to their advantage. The Southwest Indians lived in the hot and dry and much of the land was a desert. Their environment was dotted with cacti and other water mister plants. They had a few green river valleys grace the land, summer rains in some areas allowed some farmers but only little rainfall ever appeared. These tribes were different in crops and in farming, they farmed the style of housing from stone to mud adobe grass huts and they sometimes used tipis to travel but they were only temporary homes. The southwest Indians lived in very hot scorching climates but they used this to their advantage and ate the little food they found in the desert. They used the mud they found in the desert and made their adobe brick homes. They used all of everything they caught for example I am going to use the Plains Indians. The Plains Indians hunted and caught buffalo. They would use the tongue as food, the horns as toys or decorations for their homes, they used the skull for religious rituals, the brain for tanning the hind, fat used for cooking, they would use the hair as stuffing, saddle, clothing and decoration. The hind was very important of a buffalo they would use it for clothing and many other spiritual purposes. They would use everything such as the stomach to make a pot all the way to the hooves of the bison as glue and tools. Because the Native People were very intelligent they also made some inventions we use today in the modern world they created the baby bottle and the idea of a baby formula, pest control like bug repellent, they also created wood bunk beds, chewing gum and lacrosse.

Because of their bravery they fought for their beliefs. Many settlers who came and built homes above the Native’s saw as they looked down into the valley the Natives doing a ceremony and it terrified they this ritual the Natives did was called the Ghost Dance. The Ghost Dance was a religious dance they would would fast and go into sweat houses and try to get their sins to go away and be pure and after how many days they would do this at the end they would, go into the center of the village and the women would dance with all the energy they had and they would dance until they fell unconscious on the street. But the men after eating nothing and being absolutely starving would put these long sharp poles almost like what is at the end of a fishing rod into their skin. And for this ceremony they would pull and their skin would literally start to be teared apart. And so when the settlers watched they have their skin be torn apart they thought they were crazy. But in reality this was a spiritual ceremony they did to try and bring back what they loved they thought if they did the Ghost Dance they would be able to visit a place where all they loved came back. They wanted there to be no one around they wanted the bison to come back so they could hunt it. So the settlers called in the Army and they came. The chief at the time was Bigfoot and the army came to their camp

Payson Sorensen

10/19/2016 02:36:53 pm

Did you know that Native Americans are taken for granted but they must be remembered for the truth. Native Americans knew things that the Europeans didn’t. Like the way to hyperbreed plants. They were having healthier diets than we do now. They didn’t have cakes or anything that was processed with sugar. The Natives knew things that has affected our lives today. Like where to find food at or how to form a constitution.

Natives knew more and different things than Europeans. Like for instance how to grow a hyperbreed corn. They learn to adapt to the climates by dressing how the weather is. They used science to make what we call the golden corn on the cob. This was a complex food for the Native people We have a broad amount of Natives in the U.S.They also knew how to adapt to the climates all around the United States continent. Native Americans lived to their faith and what other people's faith was not useful to them. They believed in there faith based off of their creation story. When the Government tells them that they have to start being more civilized. They don’t like that so they keep doing what their faith is. They didn’t want to change the way they were living for what the United States government wanted to say.

Native people had healthier diets than Europeans had. Eating all necessary foods such as meat and fruits. Depended on the climate that the Native group lived in. They had a good balance of meats and vegetables such as corn, whales, fish, and buffalo. They were taller because of their diets. All the Natives hardly got sick because of the diets they had.

What the Natives knew helped us with our lives today. First, because they taught us how to hunt with a bow. Second, taught us how to hyperbreed plants such as corn for an example. Third, how to adapt to climate changes and how they taught us how to dress in different environments.

In conclusion, Native Americans are taken for granted but they should be remembered for the truth. The Natives knew more than the Europeans such as how to adapt to weather in the United States. They had healthier diets based on where they lived. They had healthier diets than we do know. Native people knew things that have affected our lives today.

Ali Derrick

10/19/2016 02:37:40 pm

Ali Derrick

The true history of Native Americans needs to be continually taught to us today. Because of Native American history we learn about how they adapted to the environment. They have created many resources for us to use today. Because of their stories of bravery, they showed how to fight for not only their beliefs but also our own.

Because of their ability to adapt to their environment we can have a better understanding of our environment. Many different Native American tribes lived all over the United States some all the way up to Alaska, all the way down to the Sierra Nevada's. Because many of the Natives had different environments this did not only affect them but also what clothing they wore, what food they could find, and what shelter and protection they had to block off whatever climates they had to endure. The Native American tribe known as the California Indians lived along the Pacific Coast. The Natives who lived in California lived in communities that had ranged up to as many as 2,000 homes. The Natives did not live in tepee's the climate they lived and the hot hot sun would destroy the tepee. Instead they lived in round homes with a frame covered in grass. They had a skylight in the roof, and the beds were made of skin covered frames each room with a partition for privacy. In the center they would have cook fire for the food they caught such as fish, seeds, nuts, and other smaller foods. The California Indians had climates that consisted of warm hot and sunny temperatures. If the California Indians lived in hot animals furs they would overheat so they have adapted to their climates. The stereotype of an Indian is braids, rode on horses, and lived in tepee's. Well none of that is true only the Plains Indians lived in tepee's. And many Natives did not get horses till later in the century.

Natives have created many resources for us to use today. They used their resources very wisely. Many Indians lived in different climates and environments and they would use that to their advantage. The Southwest Indians lived in the hot and dry and much of the land was a desert. Their environment was dotted with cacti and other water mister plants. They had a few green river valleys grace the land, summer rains in some areas allowed some farmers but only little rainfall ever appeared. These tribes were different in crops and in farming, they farmed the style of housing from stone to mud adobe grass huts and they sometimes used tepee's to travel but they were only temporary homes. The southwest Indians lived in very hot scorching climates but they used this to their advantage and ate the little food they found in the desert. They used the mud they found in the desert and made their adobe brick homes. They used all of everything they caught for example I am going to use the Plains Indians. The Plains Indians hunted and caught buffalo. They would use the tongue as food, the horns as toys or decorations for their homes, they used the skull for religious rituals, the brain for tanning the hind, fat used for cooking, they would use the hair as stuffing, saddle, clothing and decoration. The hind was very important of a buffalo they would use it for clothing and many other spiritual purposes. They would use everything such as the stomach to make a pot all the way to the hooves of the bison as glue and tools. Because the Native People were very intelligent they also made some inventions we use today in the modern world they created the baby bottle and the idea of a baby formula, pest control like bug repellent, they also created wood bunk beds, chewing gum and lacrosse.

Because of their bravery they fought for their beliefs. Many settlers who came and built homes above the Native’s saw as they looked down into the valley the Natives doing a ceremony and it terrified they this ritual the Natives did was called the Ghost Dance. The Ghost Dance was a religious dance they would would fast and go into sweat houses and try to get their sins to go away and be pure and after how many days they would do this at the end they would, go into the center of the village and the women would dance with all the energy they had and they would dance until they fell unconscious on the street. But the men after eating nothing and being absolutely starving would put these long sharp poles almost like what is at the end of a fishing rod into their skin. And for this ceremony they would pull and their skin would literally start to be teared apart. And so when the settlers watched they have their skin be torn apart they thought they were crazy. But in reality this was a spiritual ceremony they did to try and bring back what they loved they thought if they did the Ghost Dance they would be able to visit a place where all they loved came back. They wanted there to be no one around they wanted the bison to come back so they could hunt it. So the settlers called in the Army and they came. The chief at the time was Bigfoot and the

Jolie Farnsworth

10/19/2016 02:48:17 pm

Jolie Farnsworth

Without Native americans we wouldn't be living a richer more meaningful life, they have shaped us to who we are today. Native americans have taught us many useful and important things. Native americans taught us to fight for what we believe in and to be strong. They have also taught us the value of using our resources wisely. Native americans have also taught us many lessons through morals and stories. Without native americans we would be where we are now. Native americans are really important and we need to know more about them and their cultures. There's so many different types of native americans and it is important to learn about them and what they have done for us. Native americans have shaped us to the way we are today.

Native americans have taught us to fight for what we believe in. If they didn't teach us to fight for what we believe in we wouldn't be strong like we are now. We would be weak. Pocahontas became a leader and a chief, she had a voice. Pocahontas was helpful and kind. Because she was kind and loved her people she went to war to protect her people. Shoshoni women got to vote. They stood up because they wanted a to vote. These people stood up for what the believed and helped others. It is really important to learn Native americans. They taught us many important things that we need in our everyday lives.

Native americans also taught us the importances and values of using our resources wisely. When the Native americans hunted for bison they would use every part of it. None of the bison would get wasted. They would use the horns for toys. Use the fur for blankets and pillows. Natives would use the bison for food and weaponry, and many more ways. With trees they figured out a way to make houses. They would grow tree so it would be in a dome shape. They would also use the trees for many more thing like building fires, boats, toys, etc. The inuits would use every part of the whale too. None of the whale would be wasted. They would use most of the whale for food and blankets. They would also use the whale for many more things. Native americans taught us how to use all our resources wisely. They taught us how to use all our food, plants, etc.

Native americans taught us many lessons through stories and morals. One of the stories told by the inuit indians was called Sedna women under the sea was a really important story that stood out to me. Sedna fought for what believed in. Sedna never gave up she kept trying and trying. She was also really strong. Another story that taught me a valuable lesson was How grandmother spider stole the sun. The plains culture told that story. In the story all the animals wanted the sun but it was all the way across the mountain. All the animals tried but none of them could, so buzzard tried. He made it to the other side and worked really hard. That story taught me about bravery and if we put our mind to it we can accomplish anything. The last story that also taught me a lesson was about loowit the fire keeper. The story was told by the Northwest indians. That story taught me a lesson that we need to get along with each other and not fight. We need to be kind with each other. There is many more stories and morals that teach us many life lessons that the native americans taught us so we can be better more stronger people.

All in all native people are really important the taught us to fight for what we believe in. Native americans also taught us to use our resources wisely. Native people taught us lessons through stories and morals. All the Native americans made a huge impact in our life. If we didn't didn't have them or even know who they were or even if they existed we wouldn't be where we are right now. They have taught us many valuable life skills too. It is really important to learn about the native americans and study about native americans. So after learning about what native americans have done for us we realized how they have helped us, taught us, and changed us to the way we are today.

Berenisse Chavez

10/19/2016 02:53:47 pm

Without Native Americans, they wouldn't have taught us the importance of morals and stories so that in the future we will all get along.
Native americans are very important for our future they taught us so many important things that we can never forget like how to be brave and to always and no matter what, fight for what we believe in, even when times are hard and challenging. Native americans and their history is also very important because that is how they shaped us today as people their history made us united on how they were as a person they were very kind and were always able to do anything for anyone they loved and adored they always kept their promises.{ In the declaration of independence there were some negative stereotypes in the very beginning about indians}, ….. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

Native Americans are always courageous and they always stand up for their people and they defend the people they care about, they taught us survival and how to survive and actually hunt for your food, they also taught us that truth does matter and that it is very important to be kind and honest. Native Americans created a pathway for us today, they also gave us a boost to success.

In 1492-1900’s the indian population decreased, it estimates how many people were living in the Americas when columbus arrived vary; historian estimates range from a low of 8.4 million to a high of 112.5 million people. One of the most common estimate is about 54 million people. Approximately ⅕ of the earth’s population in 1491. In the 1900 census there were reported 237,000, Native peoples living in America. In the 200 census report, four million people reported they were of Native American descent, less than the 1% of the population. Half of that number were a mixed ethnic origin.

Native Americans shaped us today by being loyal and being an example. They taught us to always use resources wisely, and to use the scientific method for many resources, they knew greatly about how to adapt very easily to an environment, like using trees to make dome/house they were very intelligent and invented very important weapons like the bows and arrow and the stone knives .
The Native Americans taught us the value on how to treat the environment today. The Native Americans always had healthy and beneficial diets, their diet consisted of red meat,fish,dried fruit, and berries, we got many of their food ideas and diets from them. The natives were always peaceful and calm even though people spread rumors about the natives being crazy wild and savages, but they always respected each other as a breathing living human being. Natives were always very kind and loving and always had care for nature and the environment, they cared a lot for people, other than just themselves.

Native American are truly very special because they taught us almost everything we need to know, like how to fight for what we believe in, and how to use respect, thoughtfulness to use kind words in a mannered way, they also knew how to treat nature and people. All of their morals and stories and all of those lessons they taught us will help all of us reunite and become one and will help us all get along in the future.

Cade Hill

10/19/2016 02:55:02 pm

Natives have a culture that needs to be learned! They were an amazing people that we can learn so much from. In our world the are many stereotypes about the native americans many of which are NOT true. These people learned to thrive wherever they were. And they had strong religions that had very deep meanings to them. The Native people were all over the continent in every environment that this content has to offer in some of the harshest places on earth, from the icy tundra home of the inut to the scorching desert home of the Navaho the Native Americans were the ones brave enough to call North America home!

The world has views on Native Americans that are not true. The Native Americans have been called savages, not human, crazy, war like, merciless, careless, and dumb. What a world the americas must have been when columbas were they shooting arrows at him and screaming war cries ready to destroy him no. The world of the ancient americas was an amazing place with city’s and places with farms with plants not known to europe. The world that they lived in most were not nomadic they did not all live in tepees they had houses made of wood clay and live trees. They had houses that kept they warm and out of the elements like hurricanes and earthquakes and ice storms. People think that they were inferior to the europeans. But in reality they were much healthier than the europeans they were taller and much freer of disease but when the europeans came the small pox that was in their breath. It spread so fast and it ended killing up to 92% of the population of North America ⅕ of the world's population dead. The europeans did not win this land because of better weapons they won north america because of their breath. The Natives have so Many stereotypes that are not true and I feel it important to learn about them so we don’t be disrespectful to the people that were smart enough to survive in this wild land.

The people of North America were an amazing people but they had to survive in some of the toughest environments in the world with some of the most powerful superstorms in the world with our towering tornados, and our powerful Hurricanes that rock the east coast and huge earthquakes in california. The Native Americans were able to learn to adapt even in these harsh situations. In the east along the coast every year a hurricane hits and it can do so much damage so what did the Native people do they created houses that were literally rooted into the ground. And in California the Natives created thatched houses that would bend and twist when an earthquake so the house would not collapse. The Natives knew they needed vegtibals so they created the corn, and potatoes.

The world that we know today is greatly influenced by the Native Americans. There is so much that can be learned from them so firmly believe that we should keep learning about them because they are as much part of the land of the free and the home of the brave as we are it is important to study them there is a lot to learn from them.

Sarah Dudley

10/19/2016 02:58:40 pm

    96% of Native people died, hundreds of languages are gone but a few people are still alive today to tell their ancestors great stories. Everyone must learn the truth about Native Americans, they have many valuable lessons that need to be shared. Native American government and culture shape how we do thing today. It is very important we understand their cultures because the of Native cultures introduce us to, knowledgeable, rich and valuable stories we could all learn from. Because of natives we can better understand how to deal with things, get through hard times and take care of ourselves. Native culture can help us in many ways, we just need to take the time to get to know, understand and learn from the many great lesson that their stories and cultures can provide. There are many different cultures, groups, languages and religions of Native Americans that can all provide powerful, precious things that we can absorb to help us live a better life today. We just have to take the time to learn and really appreciate Natives, and then we might just understand a little but about Natives.
    Because of the hard work, politics and cultural practices of Natives our lives are better and different today. Democratic practices that native studied were used in the making of our government today, Mohawks, Onondagas and Oneidas are just some of the oldest living participatory on earth. The establishment of these tribes were long before our nation was formed, in some tribes long ago women were able to vote. The agriculture that was grown, by natives and that they taught programs to grow so they wouldn't starve. Corn was evolved by natives, it started out tiny and not edible but they figured out how to make it into something that they could live on and a main part of our diets today. They taught many europeans including the pilgrims how to survive, Natives were a help in forming our country today.
    How much do you take for granite and waste in your life? The study of natives provide rich and valuable lessons, They believed in using everything they can. They were resourceful, grateful and believed in not wasting anything you earned. An example of this was how the plains Natives used their entire buffalo even the digestive organs an

Taya Deitlaf

10/19/2016 02:59:26 pm

Taya Deitlaf Have you ever wondered who has helped us survive to this day? How we have been able to improve and progress? Native Americans have helped create pathways for us that teach and help us live more rich and meaningful lives. Without the Natives, pilgrims wouldn’t have been able to learn how to survive. In stories I’ve read and just learning about the different tribes and cultures, they are always very good at showing and feeling gratitude. They were very good at using their resources effectively.

When the pilgrims, travelers, and settlers came the natives were the ones that helped them learn how to grow crops, probably techniques on how to hunt, and make clothing. I think another contribution was just being kind and welcoming. They were willing to help and share, which made it a lot easier to not only help others but themselves as well.
Another powerful thing the Natives did is they knew how to use their resources effectively. Each tribe and different Native cultures, different diets and ways of life, but they all still knew how to savor and use their resources. When many would hunt, would use every single part of the animal. Nothing was wasted. They obviously would use the meat for food, but they would use the teeth, bones, and hair for tools,toys,instruments, and other things that were useful to them. They were very aware of their surroundings. Animals wouldn’t overpopulate, and they would make sure everyone was taken care of. Natives would also help not only their families they would take care of each other as a tribe.

Native Americans were always so grateful for all that they had. When they hunt like I said earlier they used every part of that animal, so they were always so grateful for that. They were grateful for their families and friends, they would get together as families, friends, and tribes and have parties and spend time together. There would be singing and dancing, and just having fun. I think that they were all very kind and loving. There are many stereotypes about Native Americans and most aren’t true. One is that all Native Americans are warlike and treacherous. Natives fought to defend their lands, families, friends, and way of life. They were not any more warlike and treacherous than anyone else. Another one is Native Americans are all alike. There are 520 culturally distinct tribes. Native Americans lived all over the U.S. and therefore had different environments and climates, causing them to have different resources. They had different diets, cultures, clothing, and homes. Another stereotype is, Natives had nothing to contribute. That is totally not true! Without them we wouldn’t be able how to grow crops, harvest food, and plus you hear lots of stories about how travelers and settlers wanted to trade and use Natives resources and supplies! Without Natives it would have been very hard to live or even just stay in an area for short while.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that Native Americans are amazing people that we need to learn and continue to learn about. They have so many valuable lessons and stories that we can learn from! Natives have created pathways for us so that we can not only survive but thrive. I think a huge thing we can learn from them is, using our resources effectively I think that we could really learn and benefit from that a lot. Another thing is, I bet that we could all be a little bit kinder a little bit less judgemental, a little bit more understanding, and a little bit more grateful for all that we have. As you can see we can learn and understand so much about Native Americans and our history, and I think that super cool and so, we need to take advantage of that, because it is so super important!

Berenisse chavez

10/19/2016 03:03:59 pm

Berenisse chavez

Without Native Americans, they wouldn't have taught us the importance of morals and stories so that in the future we will all get along.
Native americans are very important for our future they taught us so many important things that we can never forget like how to be brave and to always and no matter what, fight for what we believe in, even when times are hard and challenging. Native americans and their history is also very important because that is how they shaped us today as people their history made us united on how they were as a person they were very kind and were always able to do anything for anyone they loved and adored they always kept their promises.{ In the declaration of independence there were some negative stereotypes in the very beginning about indians}, ….. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

Native Americans are always courageous and they always stand up for their people and they defend the people they care about, they taught us survival and how to survive and actually hunt for your food, they also taught us that truth does matter and that it is very important to be kind and honest. Native Americans created a pathway for us today, they also gave us a boost to success.

In 1492-1900’s the indian population decreased, it estimates how many people were living in the Americas when columbus arrived vary; historian estimates range from a low of 8.4 million to a high of 112.5 million people. One of the most common estimate is about 54 million people. Approximately ⅕ of the earth’s population in 1491. In the 1900 census there were reported 237,000, Native peoples living in America. In the 200 census report, four million people reported they were of Native American descent, less than the 1% of the population. Half of that number were a mixed ethnic origin.

Native Americans shaped us today by being loyal and being an example. They taught us to always use resources wisely, and to use the scientific method for many resources, they knew greatly about how to adapt very easily to an environment, like using trees to make dome/house they were very intelligent and invented very important weapons like the bows and arrow and the stone knives .
The Native Americans taught us the value on how to treat the environment today. The Native Americans always had healthy and beneficial diets, their diet consisted of red meat,fish,dried fruit, and berries, we got many of their food ideas and diets from them. The natives were always peaceful and calm even though people spread rumors about the natives being crazy wild and savages, but they always respected each other as a breathing living human being. Natives were always very kind and loving and always had care for nature and the environment, they cared a lot for people, other than just themselves.

Native American are truly very special because they taught us almost everything we need to know, like how to fight for what we believe in, and how to use respect, thoughtfulness to use kind words in a mannered way, they also knew how to treat nature and people. All of their morals and stories and all of those lessons they taught us will help all of us reunite and become one and will help us all get along in the future.

Robert Nelson

10/19/2016 03:05:23 pm

Robert Nelson

“Between individuals, as between nations, peace means respect for the rights of others.”-Benito Juarez, Zapoteca. This was something the Native Americans heard, and took to be an importance in their life. They were peaceful and respectful.The Native Americans are the single most important part of America’s beginnings, and through learning about them we can lead richer, more powerful lives. Native Americans had the first American politics, which can help us know how to live today. Native Americans were extremely resourceful, and used everything wisely. Native American’s also invented tools and common household items that are still used today.

The first American politics were shown to us by the Native Americans. Natives practiced democracy, even before Europeans or other cultures came to America. One good example of this is that all people had rights, including women. A perfect example of this is Pocahontas, who became an ambassador while she was still younger than 15. They also had leaders to guide them, and make important decisions. Most, or nearly all of Native cultures had a chief or other leader to rule over them. Some Native Americans had slavery, which can still teach us important lessons. One group of Natives who had slavery were the Cahokian people. We can learn from them that it is wrong to have slaves, or disvalue any human life.

Native Americans were very resourceful, and used all things wisely. An example is the Inuit people. They used the entire whale that they killed. They built houses, boats,and made tons of food from each whale. Another example of resourceful people is the plains people. They had many bison at hand, but wisely chose to be resourceful. They used every part of the bison, building houses, making food, and creating other useful items out of the bison. All Native Americans used their surroundings carefully, to avoid waste. They used ice, trees, animals, and all other things that were in their environments.

Native Americans invented many useful items that are still used today. One important thing they invented was the syringe. They took needles and filled them with their own medicines, which they injected into themselves when they were sick. Another thing they invented was bunkbeds. Natives built their beds on top of each other, maybe to save room in there houses. One of the most important things Native Americans built, is medicine. They took many different herbs and plants and crushed then together to make medicine to eat or inject through their syringes.

Native Americans are the most important part of America’s very beginning, and still shape and affect our lives today. If we continue to learn about them and their way of life in our schools, we can still benefit from their teachings, stories, and proverbs. They can teach us about good policies of politics to think about. They taught us to be resourceful and wise with our surroundings. They also invented things that we can still use, and may use today. Though the Native Americans are more scarce in our country than they used to be, they are still wise in their sayings, still respectful to all things, and are still using their way of life from hundreds of years ago, and we should be humble enough to learn about them in our schools.

Jayden Allen

10/19/2016 03:18:58 pm

I believe that all people need to learn about Native Americans before Columbus came, as knowing about their cultures and their ways will enhance and richen our lives to this day. Their use of natural resources was exquisite, there is much we can learn from them in this way, Also we can not allow these many cultures and methods to be forgotten. They also made many things used commonly today that we take for granted.
One reason we need to teach about Native Americans before Columbus came to America during school is because their ways of farming, growing crops and building houses are just some examples of their resourcefulness.

They never wasted anything and used every part of the big game animals that they hunted such as the buffalo or the whale, not one piece of the animal was thrown away or not used. For example, the whale bones were used as supports. Their methods for growing corn all year long for as many years as they want on the same land. they used to make waterproof wood using fire. They would grow corn in a teepee like structure with beans that would replenish the ground as the corn grew taking the nutrients from the ground so the could grow corn for many years and the ground not becoming “dead.” were very unique and not used by any other culture. ( I didn’t finish )= )

Brandon Jeppson

10/19/2016 05:11:40 pm

Have you ever thought about how much Native Americans have contributed and sacrificed to the past and present of today's cultural society. Have you ever thought how much we owe to them. Without the Native Americans generously giving to the settlers of Europe, our generation and theirs would never have survived! You have probably heard or read about the Native Americans sharing food at the first thanksgiving. But there is so much more to this story than you would think. They practically gave the settlers their lives. They had also sacrificed to teach us about equal rights, racism to other ethnicity, and stereotypes. We should make it our responsibility to show them our gratitude and to learn from these valuable lessons. If we had listened a long time ago we would be better off today, maybe the whole incident of the Jews and the Germans would never have happened.They have also contributed to make what we know as our government, and what laws we have with it. We might have never had the awesome government that we do today without what we have learned from them. So listen and think about what I have to say about how the Native Americans have culturally enriched and enlightened our lives today.

Native Americans contributed generously to make it possible for our European ancestors to thrive in their new life. They taught them how to use, grow, and harvest crops and the best ways to go about doing that. One great example is that the Europeans didn’t know how nutrients worked. The Native Americans taught them how to have a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables. They taught them that you need to balance the nutrients in the ground as well. A great example of this is, when you plant corn in the ground it uses nutrients out of the soil. Corn in particular uses a lot of nitrogen, but the natives figured out that if you rotate the land with beans and legumes then it restores the nitrogen back into the soil. They would also teach them what types of soil are good, and what conditions are best to plant certain crops in. We still use these farming techniques to this day, it’s called crop rotation. They also taught them how to live off the land. They would teach them that you don’t have to be self sufficient all the time, that nature would give you things that you can use. They would show them how to use the things that nature provides instead of using it in a different way. They also taught them that when nature gives you all these things you should repay it. They taught them how to do it by showing thanks to the animals that you have killed, or with the Inuit, how grateful they were to the wales that they hunt. As well as helping the Europeans survive and live they would teach them spiritually. The Natives were willing to teach them there stories like, Sedna Women in the sea from the Inuit, or Manabozho and the maple tree from the the eastern woodland groups. All of these stories tell us about useful life lessons that we can still use today.

Native Americans sacrificed to teach us about stereotypes, racism, and equal rights. Society thinks that all Natives are all the same, just like stereotypes against Asians, Africans, Mexicans, etc. These stereotypes limit them to what they can do today. One common stereotype is that Modern Native Americans all live on reserves. But that is so not true, Natives live in houses just like you and me, they go to public schools and they wear the same clothes as we do. Another stereotype is that they are all drunkards. Businesses might turn down employees because they think that they are not going to be good enough and will always get drunk. The Natives also taught us about racism because of these stereotypes. In the 1700’s through the 1800’s the US government would take native american children and put them into boarding schools because they thought that they would grow up and that they would then turn against them because they thought that all Natives were warlike and treacherous. They would also force them to change what they wore, they would also change what religion that they were taught, they would completely change them into Europeans. We were also taught a valuable lesson on how to treat people from other ethnicity. There once was a caravan of natives making there way across the plains then they ran into a bunch of US soldiers, the soldiers were afraid of them. They made them give them all their weapons. The Natives agreed and they signalled with a flag of truce. But the Soldiers were still afraid of them. They had them line up for a “head count” then without warning the soldiers open fired on all of them. Some of the kids that had hid from them would be killed if their were any signs of life. Then the General called out to everyone who was left to come out and they would not hurt them. As soon as they peeked out of their hiding place they were immediately shot down. If schools had taught this in the 1900’s then during the world war

Sierra Smith

10/20/2016 07:45:23 am

Native Americans
By. Sierra Smith B7

Native Americans their culture has helped to teach us things today and some people don't want schools to teach about them anymore but they're an important part of our history. Their stories teach us about many things, their religion shows how we are alike and different, and their lifestyle can help us out with some things today.
Their stories, their stories are very unique because they are different from the stories that we tell so that’s why we think that there unique. But they’re also unique because most of them are all about their religion. The stories can also teach many important things like morals and lessons they can tell you about what to do and what not to do. Their stories are also helpful because they teach you how to be clever, how to handle situations, and how to be yourself. There is a story and it’s called Grandmother Spider the story involves using your smarts. So when the earth was first made there were a bunch of animals and they wanted sun and there was one part of the world that had sun, so what they did was they each tried to take a piece of the sun but the sun would burn them so what Grandmother spider did was she used her web to weave a bag to carry the sun in so when she came back to the animals a bird flew the sun up and placed it in the sky. So there's one of their stories.
Religion, their religion is a very important part of their culture. Their religion involves stuff about how they came to earth how some things came to be. They would also do a lot of religious activities . The Native people believe that how they came to earth was because they fell from the sky there is a story that they tell it is called The Island On The Turtle's back, it is about the The Turtle Island and how it was made. So a women lived in the sky and one day she found hole in the sky and so she went over to the hole and she fell in so birds saw her and so they carried her to a turtle's back but it wasn't ready for people to live on it so they made an island on the turtle so that is how Turtle Island was made. There is another story that talks about how they sea creatures were made it’s called Sedna. Sedna was a woman who lived in the water with her father all these guys wanted to marry Sedna but she didn’t like any of them, Until she met a guy the guy was a Fulmar he lived in a fish skin tent but Sedna didn’t know that until she married him. Then winter came so the ocean was frozen so when the water was back to normal her father came and killed the man and took his daughter away from there and when they were traveling on a boat and then the other Fulmars were birds and they were causing a storm so they would both die but instead Sedna’s father pushed her off of the boat and when she held on he chopped off her fingers so her fingers became the seals,whales,and sharks of the ocean. So there is some stuff about their Religion.
The Native Americans lifestyle has helped us learn how to do things today. Natives were very good at hunting we have learned how to hunt from them because it was passed on from generation to generation. We can also learn how to make stuff to help us survive if we ever are in the wild they showed us how they build their houses and we saw the tools and the supplies that they used. We also have learned how to use our stuff wisely and by that I mean when they hunted they didn’t waste any part of the animal that they killed they used everything and I mean EVERYTHING . For example when they killed a buffalo they used it’s intestines,the eyeballs,hooves, and many more things.So they can teach us how to use our stuff and that everything has a use in the world. That is why we should keep teaching kids about the Native people because they are an important part of our history so if we get rid of them history wouldn’t be the same.

Assignment

This essay is open note, as such you may reference (not copy) your notes (both from class and outside research) in writing your essay. Prior to publishing your essay online please:

Write an outline for your essay
1) On the template provided organize your essay in a rough draft of a five paragraph essay, be sure to include:
a. An introduction (including a powerful thesis & introduction)
b. Three main points that support your thesis
c. Three supporting points for each main point.
d. Historical evidence to support each supporting point/
c. A clear conclusion
Completed outlines are due 10/13 (B days) 10/14 (A days)

Write a Rough Draft of your essay
1) Use your oultine to write your Rough Draft.
2) Type your essay in google docs within your school provided google account.
3) Be sure your Rough Draft includes all of the elements included in your outline. (see the attached rubric)
4) Title your Rough Draft, "Period, last name, first name, Native American WalkAway, exp.... A4, Getana, Iwanna, Native American WalkAway.
5) Share your Rough Draft with the instructor. Share address cness@alpinedistrict.org.
Rough drafts are due 1st of class 10/17 (B) 10/18 (A)

Polish and Publish your Final Draft

1) Use the attached rubric to ensure your paper includes all of the required elements. Make any required changes.
2) Use the rubric to complete a self-evaluation- this will go on your grade.
3) Allow your partner to read your essay. Have your partner complete a peer evaluation. This in conjunction with the instructor and your own self- evaluation will be reflected in your final grade.
3) Copy and paste your submitted essay to the website.
4) Turn in hard copies of your evaluation and your outline to the instructor.
Final Drafts must be published online by 10/19. Evaluation and outlines are due 10/17 (B) 10/18 (A)

Online WA Native Americans: Utah's State Social Studies Core should include a more comprehensive study of Native Americans