AY Honors/Native American Lore/Answer Key

1. Name five uses made of natural materials by the Northwest Indians.

2. Name five uses made of the yucca plant by the Southwest Indians.

3. Name five uses made of the birch tree by the Eastern Woodland Indians.

4. Know 15 plant foods introduced to us by the Indians. Include four plant names used today.

Squash, corn, and beans were known as the "Three Sisters" by Native Americans. The Three Sisters were the three main indigenous plants used for agriculture. These were usually planted together, with the cornstalk providing support for the climbing beans, and shade for the squash. The squash vines provided ground cover to limit weeds. The beans provided nitrogen fixing for all three crops.

All the foods in the list below were introduced by the Native Americans. Items in bold retain their Native American names.

Pumpkin
Avocado
Bell pepper
Chili pepper
Cassava
Chicle (chewing gum)
Cocoa
Green Bean
Guava
Maize (corn)
Papaya
Peanut
Pecan
Pineapple
Potato
Squash
Sunflower
Sweet Potato
Tomato
Wild rice

5. Describe Indian stalking and tracking.

6. Name five rocks and/or minerals and uses made of them by the Indians.

7. Explain one way in which arrowheads were made by the Indians.

8. Define pictograph. What are Indian petroglyphs and where can you find them?

9. Describe the use of seashells by the Indians.

10. Name at least ten materials used in making Indian arts and crafts.

11. Make a craft item, using any of the materials named in requirement nine (9).

References