California Native Americans?

Question

How do California Native Americans in the pre-Colombian period vary from Native Americans in the rest of the United States?

Answer 1

Good question. Scientists estimate the densest population of First Nations lived in California. Most of them hunted or gathered food because food was plentiful. Fish must've been an important part of sustenance. Also they made a bread like food by crushing acorns, filtering out dangerous poisons, then kneading and baking it. Dont know how it tastes.. must be alright but besides that they varied alot.

Their northern neighbours like the Haida Gwaii had sedentary communities like British Columbia and wore armor and wielding swords made of copper. (if Only the natives had a 1000 more years to develop, I bet we would see a Pacific empire).

In the South descendants of the Misssissippians carried on Mound Building living in dense kingdoms like the Caddo and Coosa kingdoms. Dozens of towns and cities dotted this area. In the Atlantic coasts Algonquin speaking peoples dominated and lived in sedentary communities either by farming or fishing.

To the west of them the Iroquois nation was strong and was attempted to dominate the Ohio valley. Their system of government akin to Greek democracy was more similiar to our own notions of democracy. In the Canadian North Algonquin speakers hunted big game. In the Arctic Inuit lived on fish and whales.

In the plains Indians followed the Buffalo on travois pulled by dogs ( Horses weren't in the Americas yet). They lived simply due to the environment and food sources.

In the Southwest sedentary communities thrived living on corn as their ancestors had been living for thousands of years.

In Mexico the Aztecs had a large empire and in their capital Tenochtitlan was among the most populous cities in the world. In fact the valley of Mexico was the densest place on Earth at that time with a population of 20 million.

In the yucatan the Maya were decreased both demographically and culturally yet they were making a comeback during the late 1400s only to be felled by European diseases.

In Brazil native groups controlled nature by creating forests to fertilize soil for yams and tapioc their staple food. Living of beasts and tapioc were their dogma of life.

To the west the Inca ruled. Andeans had witnessed the rise and falls of many empires but this one had instituitions that could make it an endearing civiliation like Han China.

In Argentina people hunter gathered. I could go on but i'm tired have a good one

Answer 2

Every group of Native Americans varies in some way shape or form. It would be like asking, "How do sunflowers vary from all other flowers?" If this a homwork question, I would rephrase it to say, "How are the Native Americans in California Unique?" Then explain how they have specialized pottery and stuff like that. :)

Answer 3

The Native Californians were among the most docile non violent Natives on the entire continent. Some might call them lazy by 2007 standards, the first slackers were Californians!!

They were physically shorter than Eastern Natives, made little effort to expand their knowledge beyond basket weaving, and were content to live off the land taking what the land provided without improving upon it. It could be argued that they lived in harmony with the land but some might call that lazy.

Here are links and words....
http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/mission/californiaindians.htm
"""The Indians of California are among the least known groups of natives of North America.
Those along the coast south of San Francisco were brought under Spanish missionary influence in the latter part of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th centuries. Some tribes, however, were not known even by name until after the discovery of gold and the settlement of the country in 1849 and subsequently. The Californians were among the least warlike tribes of the continent and offered but little resistance, and that always ineffectual, to the seizure of their territory by the whites--------------------------
Culturally, the California Indians are probably as simple and rude as any large group of Indians in North America. Their arts (excepting that of basket making, which they possessed in a high form ) were undeveloped; pottery was practically unknown, and in the greater part of the state the carving or working of wood was carried on only to a limited extent. Houses were often of grass, tule, or brush, or of bark, sometimes covered with earth. Only in the north west part of the state were small houses of planks in use. In this region, as well as on the Santa Barbara Islands, wooden canoes were also made, but over the greater part of the state a raft of tules was the only means of navigation. Agriculture was, nowhere practiced. Deer and small game were hunted, and there was considerable fishing; but the bulk of the food was vegetable. The main reliance was placed on numerous varieties of acorns, and next to these, on seeds, especially of grasses and herbs. Roots and berries were less used.
Both totemism and a true gentile organization were totally lacking in all parts of the state. The mythology of the Californians was characterized by unusually well developed and consistent creation myths, and by the complete lack not only of migration but of ancestor traditions. Their ceremonies were numerous and elaborate as compared with the prevailing simplicity of life, but they lacked almost totally the rigid ritualism and extensive symbolism that pervade the ceremonies of most of America. One set of ceremonies was usually connected with a secret religious society; another, often spectacular, was held in remembrance of the dead.
--------------------------------"
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/reports2/california.htm


Peace

Answer 4

I AM a California Indian. The scope of your question is extremely broad. But I'll try.

I'll compare US to the plains people.

Plains "sacred circle" everybody shared everything.
US = Trade or starve. the ONLY thing that belonged to everybody was the acorn, BUT you had to grind your OWN.

Plains Tobacco is "SACRED"
US, we grew it to smoke unceremoniously

Plains Sweat lodge is sacred and used for prayer
US, sweats are for curing illness and relieving stress.

If there's any more better focused questions, email me

Answer 5

I believe there was a much greater influence from the South Americas on the west coast.




g-day!

Answer 6

Probably a type of wigwam structure

Answer 7

most were from mexico and south america, prior to the spanish -american war that got cali,new mex, ariz, and colorado from spain...hense the spanish landscape of so-cal