Customs and Traditions of American Indians

Tribes hunted, gathered, and farmed for food.

Seasonal crops and hunting patterns played a huge role in community activities.

Many of the foods that we enjoy today can be traced back to the crops grown by American Indians. These include corn, potatoes, tomatoes, peanuts, wild rice, squash, and beans.

American Indian clothing represented the natural environment in which they lived.

American Indians used animal products, such as fur, feathers, bones, teeth, and claws to make clothing and jewelry.

American Indians wore different forms of clothing for different purposes. Many tribes wore decorative headdresses, masks, and clothing for ceremonies and celebrations.

Dancing, singing, and praying are very important in American Indian ceremonies.

There are celebrations for:

People who are sick

When a child becomes an adult

When warriors come back from battle

For a good harvest

Native peoples living in North America did not use an alphabet to communicate, but they did have symbols that were part of stories.

Many stories explained their beliefs and the creation of the world. Some stories represented actual events that happened in the tribe’s past.

Animals, birds, and the environment were often part of these important stories, creating a special bond to the land.

Native Americans used shells, porcupine quills, or feathers for decoration. Jade, turquoise, and other stones were used to create their art.

They crafted jewelry and other items from silver, turquoise, and gold.

Early American Indian art continues to influence artists, and many tribes continue to create art in the same way as their ancestors.

Before the arrival of Europeans in North America, there were approximately 500 different American Indian languages spoken by millions of indigenous people.

Some languages were spoken within a very small area, while others were spoken by large numbers of people across the continent.

Many American Indian languages are still spoken today.