Native Americans: People of the Forest

Dense forests, streams, mirror lakes, and waterfalls were home to the Iroquois, the Cherokee, the Ojibwa, and others. The typical life of these Eastern Woodland Indians is seen through an Ojibwa family. They hunted deer and other game animals in the forest; fished and trapped in the rivers and lakes; and made their homes from what the forest provided them. The men and women had their separate chores to perform, and it was not always easy to do what was expected. In the video, Little Flower is a young girl who experiences the frustration of being allowed to do "only" women's work – cooking, sewing, basket making – but she really wants to hunt, fish, and trap. Final video segments portray the great changes brought about by the introduction of Europeans to Native American lands, as well as the mistreatment of Native Americans by the government.

  Curriculum Standards

Grades: 3-5   |   Copyright: 2004