One State-Many Nations

 
 
 

Herrons Whisper
The Teacher's Native American Stereotype Quiz Answers

1. The people native to this land are called Indians because they came from India.    

False

     

2. It is a known fact that the Native people of this land came from Asia.    

False

     

3. All Native Americans have the same traditions and share a common Native religion.    

False

     

4. All Native Americans used the tepee as a form of housing.    

False

     

5. Native American religion was based on nature worship and a pantheon of different gods that represented the forces of nature.     

False

     

6. Native economy was based on the wampum bead as a medium of exchange.     

False

     

7. Native social structure was based on a chief, who headed the village, and his family, who were considered royalty, such as the Indian princess.      

False

     

8. Painted symbols on Native faces were to frighten an enemy.     

False

     

9. The pipe is a sacred symbol of all creation and the tobacco smoked in it has a spiritual meaning.      

True

     

10. Certain feathers hold special meaning for some Native people and the way they are worn or displayed can serve to identify that persons accomplishments.      

True

 

11. In what year was the last armed Indian uprising on the North American continent?

1994 the conflict between the Peasant Natives of the State of Chiapas, Mexico, against the government of Mexico. They were fighting to lift themselves out of what they feel was government-imposed poverty. (Check out the conflicts at Salamanca, NY, and Oka and Canawaga, Quebec, Canada.)

 

12. What was the head gear that Woodland chiefs most commonly wore?

A deer and porcupine roach, a cloth turban

 
13. What was the number-one killer of Native people when they had first contact with Europeans?

Disease

 

14. Name the three staple foods of the Woodland Native people (also known as the Three Sisters).

Corn, beans, squash

 
15. At this time, what is the earliest known date for any Native American artifact?

33500 B.C., although a new find has been tentatively dated 47000 B.C., which is about the same time that Neanderthals were in Europe. This new find is in Brazil.

 
16. Where was that artifact found?

Argentina

 

17. What is the name of the common theory that is used in textbooks to describe the origin of, and the supposed migration of, Native people of this hemisphere?

Bering Straits Theory or the Land Bridge Theory

 

In our culture there are names or titles used to describe Native people and their role or the position of responsibility they hold within their nation. See how many you can identify. (While the major Native names were used historically, they are now considered racist when used in certain situations!)

a. An Indian baby is called a Papoose

b. An Indian woman is a Squaw

c. An Indian leader is a Chief

d. An Indian man is a Buck

e. An Indian warrior is a Brave

f. An Indian healer is a Medicine man

g. The daughter of the head man is an Indian princess

 
19. The major Native American holiday that is celebrated once a year is called

Thanksgiving

 
20. Who said, "The only good Indian is a dead Indian"?

William Tecumseh Sherman

     

21. Most Hollywood movies use real Native American music.

False

     

22. Native Americans wore charms or talismans made from animal or plant parts to give them good luck.

False

     

23. Arrowheads are usually as long as the hunter's first finger.

False

     

24. Ideas for parts of the documents on which we base our form of government were copied from the Iroquois Six Nations, and Benjamin Franklin discussed the ideas with tribal leaders.

True

     

25. Woodland Native women had as much power as men within the tribal structure and had a voice in tribal government.

True

 

The contents of Herron's Whisper was created by Rena Dennison.

 

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