Studies Weekly, Week 5 Article 3: Respect for the Land

Article 3: Respect for the Land

American Indian tribes have a deep respect for and connection to nature. They feel connected to the land. It played a vital role in their sacred beliefs and everyday lives. They cared for the land and used the resources it provided wisely. They believed that if they took care of the Earth, the Earth would take care of them. Many tribes use the same name to describe the Earth: “Mother Earth.”

​American Indians did not believe in individual land ownership. Land was used by tribes and belonged to the tribe. Products from the land were communal and shared by the bands that lived there.

​ Because tribes relied so much on the land for their resources, they needed lots of land to get those resources. Tribes would cover millions of acres to get food, fuel, water, and other resources. A certain area may be used for several years. Then the tribe would leave so the area could replenish itself. Eventually, the tribe would come back to that area when it was ready.