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Native Americans can also be called "American Indians" 

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Native Americans can also be called "American Indians" 

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American Indian languages American Indian tribes American Indian crafts
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Munsees for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to look through our mainMunsee page for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Munsee pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

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Munsee Tribe

Munsee is pronounced "MUN-see" (MUN rhymes with "fun.") It comes from the people's original name, Minisink, which means "from the rocky land."

The Munsee Delaware language didn't have a writing system until recently, so different people spelled it different ways. Most Munsee people spell the word "Munsee" today, but in the past "Minsi," "Muncey," and "Muncie" were also common.

The Munsee tribe originally lived insouthern New York,northern New Jersey, andsoutheastern Connecticut. But Dutch and British colonists forced them to leave their homeland in the 1700's. Some Munsees retreated to Canada, where they still live today. Others joined theMohican tribe and ended up moving to Wisconsin together, where they are known as the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe. Still other Munsees joined their relatives theLenni Lenape on their trails westward, and most of their descendents live in Oklahoma today.

Most Munsees today live on threereserves in Ontario, Canada. Reserves, or reservations, are special lands that belong to Native American tribes and are under their control. In the United States, the Munsees share a reservation with theStockbridge Indians. Together they are called theStockbridge Munsee Tribe. Although the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe and the three Canadian Munsee bands consider themselves members of the same Munsee nation, each band has its own leadership and services.

In the past, each Munsee village had its own chief. A Munsee chief was more like a mayor than a king, and he had to work together with a tribal council of village elders to govern his village. Munsee bands are still governed by tribal councils, and some of them have chiefs as well. But today, council members and chiefs are elected like other modern politicians.

Munsee Indians all speak English today. Some elders also speak their nativeMunsee language. Munsee is an Algonquian language closely related toLenape and Nanticoke. If you'd like to learn a few easy Munsee words, "he" (pronounced "hey") is a friendly greeting and "anushiik" (pronounced ah-noo-sheek) means "thank you." You can also listen to some audio clips of the languagehere and read a Munsee picture glossaryhere.

Today Munsee is anendangered language because most children aren't learning it anymore. However, some Munsee Indian people are working to keep their language alive.

The Munsees were culturally similar to theDelaware tribe, who they considered elder kinfolk. Today, the Munsee culture has changed somewhat because the Munsees have been living in close contact with Indians from other tribes. Here is the homepage of theStockbridge-Munsee Tribe, where you can learn more about Munsee culture in the past and today.

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They do the same things any children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Munsee children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play, just like early colonial children. But they did havedolls, ball games, and toys like miniature bows and arrows. Munsee mothers, like many Native Americans, traditionally carried their babies incradleboards on their backs. Here is a website with pictures of cradleboards and otherNative baby carrier technology.

What were men and women's roles in the Munsee tribe?

Munsee Indian men were hunters and sometimes went to war to protect their families. Munsee women were farmers and also did most of the child care and cooking. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine. In the past, Munsee chiefs were always men, but today a Munsee Indian woman could be chief too.

The Munsees didn't live in tepees. They lived in villages of round houses calledwigwams. Here are some pictures ofNative American wigwams like the ones Munsee Indians used. During the summer, Munsee families would go on extended hunting trips. Then, they built a temporary camp of lean-tos or smaller wigwams to sleep in. Today, Native Americans only build a wigwam for fun or to connect with their heritage. Most Munsees live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Munsee women wore knee-length skirts. Munsee men worebreechclout and leggings. Shirts were not necessary in the Munsee culture, but the Munsees did wear deerskin mantles in cool weather. Both genders wore earrings andmoccasins. In colonial times, the Munsees adapted European fashions such as cloth blouses and jackets, decorating them with fancy beadwork. Here are somepictures of Delaware Indian clothing, and some photos and links aboutNative American apparel in general.

The Munsees didn't wear long headdresses like theSioux. Usually they wore abeaded head band with a feather or two in it. The Munsees painted their faces with different colors and designs for different occasions, and the men often woretattoos in animal designs. Men and women both wore their hair in long braids, but a warrior often wore aMohawk hairstyle or shaved his head completely except for ascalplock (one long lock of hair on top of his head.) Here is a website with pictures ofNative American Indian hair.What was Munsee food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Munsee were farming people. The women harvested corn, squash and beans, which they called the "three sisters." Munsee men hunted deer, elk, turkeys, and small game, and went fishing in the lakes and rivers. Munsee Indian recipes included soup, cornbread, dumplings and salads. Here is a website with more information about

Today, some Munsee people still have a traditional headband or moccasins, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths... and they only wear feathers in their hair on special occasions like a dance.

Yes, Munsee people made birchbark canoes or carved dugout canoes from wood. Here is a website with pictures of these differentIndian boat types. Over land, the Munsees used dogs as pack animals. (There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe.) Munsee Indians used sleds and snowshoes to help them travel in the winter. They learned to make those tools from northern neighbors like theCree Indians. Today, of course, Munsee Indian people also use cars... and non-native people also use canoes.

Native agriculture.

Munsee warriors used heavy wooden war clubs and carried body-length shields of moosehide and wood. Munsee hunters usually used bows and arrows. Here is a website with pictures and information aboutNative Indian weapons.

The Munsee tribe is known for theirbeadwork designs andbasketry. Like other eastern American Indians, Munsees also craftedwampum out of white and purple shell beads. Wampum beads were traded as a kind of currency, but they were more culturally important as an art material. Thedesigns and pictures on wampum belts often told a story or represented a person's family.

What other Native Americans did the Munsee Indian tribe interact with?
The Munsee Indians were close relatives of theLenape andNanticoke Indians. These tribes were never united into a single confederacy, but they all considered themselves Delaware Indians. The Delaware tribes traded regularly with all the other New England Indians, especially theWampanoag and Mohicans, and they often fought with the powerfulIroquois Confederacy.

Storytelling was very important to the Munsee Indian culture. Traditional Munsee legends and fairy tales are very similar to the Lenape ones, although in modern times Munsee storytellers also tell Mahican and Iroquois tales. Here's one typical legend abouthow the crow got black feathers. Here's a website where you can read more aboutMunsee mythology.

Religions are too complicated and culturally sensitive to describe appropriately in only a few simple sentences, and we strongly want to avoid misleading anybody. You can visit this site to learn more aboutMunsee mythology or this site aboutNative American religious beliefs in general.

You may enjoyThe White Deer, which is a collection of traditional Lenape and Munsee Delaware legends. (Some of them may be too scary for younger children.) If you want to know more about Munsee culture and history, one interesting source isThe Munsee, though it can be hard to find. Younger kids may preferThe Lenape Indians, which is much easier to read--the Lenape and Munsee were kinfolk who had very similar culture. You can also browse through our recommendations ofAmerican Indian books in general.

You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organizationhere. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2015.

Thanks for your interest in the Munsee Indian people and their language!

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Munsee Indian Tribe
An overview of the Munsee Delaware nation, their language and history.

Munsee Language Resources
Munsee language samples, articles, and indexed links.

Munsee Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Munsee people past and present.

Munsee Indian Words
Munsee Indian vocabulary lists.

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Facts for Kids: Munsee Indians (Stockbridge Munsees)

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American Indian languages American Indian tribes American Indian crafts Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Munsees for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to look through our mainMunsee page for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Munsee pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

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What did you notice in the video? Did you learn anything new? If so, what did you learn?

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Native peoples from different parts of North America have used a wide range of agricultural techniques. Perhaps the best known is the interplanting of corn, beans, and squash –  a trio often referred to as the "three sisters."

The three sisters also complement each other nutritionally, providing people with sources of both starches and proteins along with diverse vitamins and minerals.

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Geography- From Lake Superior to the Atlantic Coast
Climate- Temperate climate with four seasons
Shelter- Longhouses or wigwams
Tools- Stone blades, pottery
Food- Crops such as beans, squash, and corn

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If you had tot interview one of these famous Native Americans, who would it be and why?

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November is Native American Heritage Month. In celebration, we are looking back at famous American Indians in history. Whether actors or activists, artists or athletes, these native people made significant contributions to American culture and history and were leaders in their fields and in their communities.

Joe Medicine Crow (1913-2016)

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JOE MEDICINE CROW (1913 - 2016) was the last surviving war chief of his tribe and the respected historian of Montana's Crow people. His writings on Native American history and reservation culture were widely acclaimed, but he was known best for his writings and lectures on the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
View Joe Medicine Crow's obituary
Abel Fernandez (1930-2016)

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Actor ABEL FERNANDEZ (1930 - 2016), known best for his role as federal agent Bill Youngfellow on the TV series "The Untouchables," was born in Los Angeles, the son of a Yaqui Indian mother and Mexican-Indian father. After serving as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army and boxing professionally, Fernandez became an actor, playing roles on dozens of television shows including "Daniel Boone," "Gunsmoke," "Wagon Train," "Have Gun-Will Travel," and "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin."
View Abel Fernandez's obituary
Maria Tallchief (1925-2013)

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Born in Oklahoma to an Osage father and white mother, MARIA TALLCHIEF (1925 - 2013), pictured with her daughter, was one of America's first great prima ballerinas. She was most associated with the New York City Ballet, where she worked from 1948 to 1965, giving life to such works as "The Nutcracker," "Firebird," and other masterpieces. George Balanchine, the Russian-born dance genius, was not only the company's director and choreographer; in 1946, he became Tallchief's husband for some years.
View Maria Tallchief's obituary
Mary Brave Bird (1954-2013)

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MARY BRAVE BIRD (1954 - 2013), who won the American Book Award for her 1990 book, ''Lakota Woman,'' joined the American Indian Movement (AIM) in the 1970s. When 200 Oglala Sioux and AIM activists took control of the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1973, they protested the tribal president's alleged corruption and the failure of the U.S. government to honor its treaties with Native Americans. Mary Brave Bird was not only there; she also gave birth to her son during the siege. Years later, she told the Los Angeles Times, ''Before AIM came, people didn't have their long hair, people didn't have their Indian pride.''
View Mary Brave Bird's obituary
Russell Means (1939-2012)

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RUSSELL MEANS (1939 - 2012) never shunned attention. Whether leading Native Americans in railing against broken federal treaties, appearing in a Hollywood blockbuster or advocating a sovereign American Indian nation within U.S. borders, the Oglala Lakota activist who helped lead the 1973 uprising at Wounded Knee reveled in the spotlight. But only on his terms.
View Russell Means' obituary
Audrey Shenandoah (1926-2012)

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A leader in the Onondaga Nation and a recognized authority on Onondaga culture, clan mother AUDREY SHENANDOAH (1926 - 2012) was also an internationally known writer, teacher, and adviser to the United Nations. In the tradition of the Haudenosaunee, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, the clan mothers have the power to select chiefs and the responsibility to look over their people and decide who would make a good leader.

Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010)

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WILMA MANKILLER (1945 - 2010) was just 40 years old when she became chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1985. During her 11-year tenure, she oversaw a period of tremendous growth for the Cherokee Nation, with the population almost tripling from 55,000 to 156,000. She strengthened the relationship between the Cherokee Nation and the U.S. government, worked to establish community development programs, and revived the tribal high school in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
View Wilma Mankiller's obituary
Jack Brisco (1941-2010)

Chickasaw.net

As a student at Oklahoma State in 1965, JACK BRISCO (1941 - 2010), right, became the first Native American to win the NCAA's wrestling national championship. Later, he and his brother Gerry formed the Brisco Tag Team, winning numerous tag-team titles, championships, and awards throughout their wrestling careers. The Brisco brothers were inducted into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame in 2016. Gerry Brisco was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2006.

Ai (1947-2010)

University of Arizona Poetry Center / Laverne Harrell

AI (1947 - 2010) is noted for her uncompromising poetic vision and bleak dramatic monologues that give voice to marginalized, often poor, and abused speakers. Her awareness of her own mixed racial heritage - she self-identified as Japanese, Choctaw-Chickasaw, African-American, Irish, Southern Cheyenne, and Comanche - as well as her strong feminist bent, shape her poetry, which is often brutal and direct in its subject matter.

Paula Gunn Allen (1939-2008)

TC Daily Planet / Paula Gunn Allen

In the 1960s, when some in academia still denied the existence of Native American literature, PAULA GUNN ALLEN (1939 - 2008) embarked on a career that proved them wrong - and altered the required reading lists of literature classes on U.S. college campuses. The former UCLA professor helped define the canon of Native American literature, encouraged its development by anthologizing new American Indian writers, and nurtured a broader audience for the work. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Allen (pictured with her daughter) was of mixed Laguna Pueblo, Sioux, Scottish, and Lebanese heritage.

Floyd Red Crow Westerman (1936-2007)

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Born on the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Sioux reservation in South Dakota, FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN (1936 - 2007) was an American Indian activist, actor, and folk singer who appeared in "Dances With Wolves" and performed with musicians including Willie Nelson. "He always said he was a musician first and he just acted for the money," his son said.
View Floyd Red Crow Westerman's obituary
R.C. Gorman (1931-2005)

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Descended from generations of Navajo artisans, R.C. GORMAN (1931 - 2005) was a renowned Native American artist whose work has been displayed in many galleries in the U.S. and museums such as New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Wahoo McDaniel (1938-2002)

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WAHOO MCDANIEL (1938 - 2002) capitalized on his Choctaw-Chickasaw heritage as a football player and then a professional wrestler. Once described as the New York Jets' first real hero, McDaniel joined the team in 1964 and, in his opening game, made 10 tackles from his middle linebacker position. Soon, the public-address announcer proclaimed, ''Tackle by ... guess who?'' The crowd responded, ''Wahoo!''

Pop Chalee (1906-1993)

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A late bloomer onto the emerging Native American art scene of the 1930s, POP CHALEE (1906 - 1993), also known as Merina Lujan, quickly became one of the most successful and sought-after artists of her time. Pop Chalee, which means Blue Flower, is a Tiwa name given to her by her Taos grandmother soon after birth.

T.C. Cannon (1946-1978)

T.C. Cannon

Of Kiowa, Caddo, and French descent, T.C. CANNON (1946 - 1978) was an influential, 20th-century Native American artist. In 1972, Cannon and fellow artist Fritz Scholder had a two-person exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution's National Collection of Fine Arts, titled "Two American Painters."

Ira Hayes (1923-1955)

Indian Country Today Media Network

IRA HAYES (1923 - 1955) was a Pima Indian from the Gila River Reservation who volunteered to fight as a U.S. Marine in World War II. He gained fame in the Pacific campaign when he, along with four fellow Marines and one U.S. Navy sailor, raised the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima. Captured by photographer Joe Rosenthal of The Associated Press, the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima has become one of the most iconic war images ever. But the resulting fame took a heavy toll on Hayes.

Jim Thorpe (1887-1953)

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JIM THORPE (1887 - 1953) was a Sac and Fox Indian from the Oklahoma frontier, orphaned as a teenager and raised as a ward of government schools. When Thorpe won the 1912 Olympic pentathlon and decathlon in Stockholm, Sweden, King Gustav V pronounced him the greatest athlete in the world. Later, the International Olympic Committee stripped him of his medals and struck his marks from the official record after learning that he had violated the rules of amateurism by playing minor league baseball in 1909-10. But in the minds of many, he remains one of the greatest athletes of all time.

Mildred Bailey (1907-1951)

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Known as Mrs. Swing, jazz singer MILDRED BAILEY (1907 - 1951) has long been considered a white woman: The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz describes her as "the first white singer to absorb and master the jazz-flavored phrasing ... of her black contemporaries." But the Coeur d'Alene tribe wants to change that perception and let the world know that Bailey was, in fact, Native American, born on the reservation to a Coeur d'Alene mother.
View Mildred Bailey's obituary
Lucy Parsons (1854-1942)

African-American Intellectual History Society

How does one accurately discuss a historical person who was known for purposefully and repeatedly changing her identity? LUCY PARSONS (1854 - 1942) was an outspoken labor activist and the wife of Albert Parsons, one of the hanged Chicago Haymarket anarchists. While Parsons claimed Native American and indigenous Mexican heritages, her contemporaries often labeled her black, her death certificate listed her as white, and modern scholars offer various combinations.

Dr. Charles Eastman (1858-1939)

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DR. CHARLES EASTMAN (1858 - 1939) was of Santee Dakota, English, and French ancestry. After working as a physician on reservations in South Dakota, he became increasingly active in politics and issues involving Native American rights. Working to improve the lives of youths, he founded 32 Native American chapters of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and also helped found the Boy Scouts of America.

Charles Curtis (1860-1936)

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A little more than a century before Barack Obama became the first biracial president of the United States, CHARLES CURTIS (1860 - 1936) became the first politician with Native American heritage (Kaw, Osage, and Potawatomi) to serve as a U.S. senator. Curtis' political legacy is a complicated one: As the first Native American in the Senate, Curtis became the nation's most influential voice in Indian policy, but how did he use his authority? He wrote a law that, ironically, gave away Indian mining rights and dissolved whole tribes - including his own. He would later serve as vice president under Herbert Hoover.

Will Rogers (1879-1935)

AP Photo

Entertainer WILL ROGERS (1879 - 1935) used to say, "My ancestors didn't come over on the Mayflower, but they met the boat." Rogers was proud of his American Indian heritage. His father was a Cherokee senator and judge who helped to write the Oklahoma Constitution, and his mother was descended from a Cherokee chief. As the Cherokee Kid, Rogers made a name for himself in vaudeville and then in Hollywood.

Angel De Cora (1871 - 1919)

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A member of the Winnebago Tribal Nation, ANGEL DE CORA (1871 - 1919) was raised on a reservation in Nebraska until she was 12. She then was taken to an Indian boarding school, the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, in Virginia. Whether her parents consented to her enrollment in the Virginia school remains in dispute, but sending Native American children to government-run, English language - only boarding schools was a common practice believed necessary to assimilate them into American culture. She graduated from Smith College and went on to become a well-known artist and a much-sought-after illustrator of books and magazines at the turn of the 20th century.

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte (1865-1915)

Smithsonian Institution / National Anthropological Archives

Born on the Omaha reservation in Nebraska, DR. SUSAN LA FLESCHE PICOTTE (1865 - 1915) would go on to become the first Native American physician. An active social reformer as well as a doctor, she campaigned against alcohol and tuberculosis. She also worked to help other Omaha navigate the bureaucracy of the Office of Indian Affairs and receive the money owed to them for the sale of their land.

Geronimo (1829-1909)

Wikimedia Commons

GERONIMO (1829 - 1909) was a prominent leader from the Bedonkohe band of the Chiricahua Apache tribe. From 1850 to 1886, Geronimo joined with members of three other Chiricahua Apache bands - the Chihenne, the Chokonen, and the Nednhi - to carry out numerous raids as well as resistance to U.S. and Mexican military campaigns in the southwestern American territories of New Mexico and Arizona. In his old age, Geronimo appeared at fairs including the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, where he reportedly rode a Ferris wheel and sold photographs of himself as souvenirs. Despite his celebrity, he was not allowed to return to the land of his birth. When he died at the Fort Sill hospital in 1909, he still a prisoner of war.

Red Cloud (1822-1909)

David Francis Barry

RED CLOUD (1822 - 1909) led the Oglala Lakota in battle and, after signing the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868, in the important transition to reservation life. He outlived all of the other major Lakota leaders of the Indian Wars, dying in 1909 at age 88 on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He is quoted as saying in his old age, "They made us many promises, more than I can remember. But they kept but one - They promised to take our land ... and they took it."

Edmonia Lewis (1844-1907)

Wikimedia Commons

EDMONIA LEWIS (1844 - 1907) was the first woman of African-American and Native American heritage to achieve international fame and recognition as a sculptor.

Chief Joseph (1840-1904)

Wikimedia Commons

CHIEF JOSEPH (1840 - 1904) led his people during the most tumultuous period in their history when the Nez Percé were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in the Wallowa Valley by the United States federal government and forced to move northeast, onto the significantly reduced reservation in Lapwai, Idaho Territory. Remembered as an advocate for peace, Chief Joseph is said to have died of a broken heart.

Sarah Winnemucca (circa 1844-1891)

Zocalo Public Square

In 1883, SARAH WINNEMUCCA (circa 1844 - 1891) published "Life Among the Paiutes: Their Wrongs and Claims," considered the first known autobiography written by a Native American woman. When the Paiute people were interned in a concentration camp at Yakima, Washington, after the Bannock War, Winnemucca traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby for their release. She also served U.S. forces as a messenger, interpreter, and guide, and as a teacher for imprisoned Native Americans.

Sitting Bull (1831-1890)

Wikimedia Commons

SITTING BULL (1831 - 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota holy man who led his people during years of resistance, including at the Battle of Little Bighorn. When Gen. George Armstrong Custer and his troops attacked Sitting Bull's camp, Sitting Bull's followers defeated them - as Sitting Bull himself had foreseen.

Sequoyah (circa 1775-1843)

Wikimedia Commons

SEQUOYAH (circa 1775 - 1843) was a Cherokee silversmith who created a Cherokee syllabary, making reading and writing in Cherokee possible. This was one of the very few times in recorded history that a member of a preliterate people created an original, effective writing system. The people of the Cherokee Nation rapidly began to use his syllabary, officially adopting it in 1825, and their literacy rate quickly surpassed that of surrounding European-American settlers.

Tecumseh (1768-1813)

Wikimedia Commons

Like Mohawk leader Joseph Brant before him, Shawnee leader TECUMSEH (1768 - 1813) sought to unify tribes to rally together against American encroachments on Indian territories and sovereignty. Under Tecumseh's leadership, "Tecumseh's Confederacy" went to war against the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812, allying themselves with the British.

Sacagawea (circa 1788-1812)

Flickr Creative Commons / J. Stephen Conn

Born into the Shoshone tribe, SACAGAWEA (circa 1788 - 1812) was kidnapped as a child by Hidatsa Sioux and later sold to a French Canadian fur trapper who took her as his bride. Pregnant and, then, with the baby in tow, Sacagawea traversed the western half of the United States with explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, serving as their interpreter and helping to guide them in their journey from St. Louis, Missouri, to the Pacific Northwest.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680)

Public Broadcasting Service

SAINT KATERI TEKAKWITHA (1656 - 1680) is significant as the first Native American canonized as a Roman Catholic saint. Born to a Mohawk chief and an Algonquin mother, Tekakwitha was orphaned at 4 when her parents died of smallpox.

Pocahontas (circa 1596-1617)

Wikimedia Commons

One of the most enigmatic figures in American history, POCAHONTAS (circa 1596 - 1617) was the daughter of Powhatan, chief of the Powhatan people. After marrying Jamestown, Virginia, settler John Rolfe and converting to Christianity, Pocahontas became a celebrity in England where she was presented as an example of a "civilized savage." She died in England as she and her husband were setting sail to return to Virginia.

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November is Native American Heritage Month. In celebration, we are looking back at famous American Indians in history. Whether actors or activists, artists or athletes, these native people made significant contributions to American culture and history and were leaders in their fields and in their communities.

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Algonquin Indian family Algonquin dancer Karly Meness

Algonquin is pronounced Al-GON-kin. "Algonquin" is the most common spelling, but you'll often see "Algonkin" too. Either way is fine--but avoid spelling the word "Algonquian" or "Algonkian," because that refers to a whole group of Native American languages (includingCree,Blackfoot, andDelaware)! The Algonquins are only one of the manyAlgonquian-speaking tribes, and they have a unique identity and independent political status from the others.

"Algonquin" was the French name for the tribe. The French were probably trying to pronounceelehgumoqik, the Maliseet word for "our allies," orAlgoomaking, a Mi'kmaq place name. The Algonquins call themselvesAnishnabe, which means "original person." (The plural isAnishnabek.) However, Algonquins useAnishnabek to refer to other Indians also. So when they are specifically referring to their tribe, they usually use "Algonquins" or "Algonkins" to distinguish themselves.

The Algonquins are original natives of the southeastern region of Canada. Today they live in nine communities in Quebec and one in Ontario. Here is amap showing the location of the Algonquin and their relatives.

No. Other Algonquian tribes lived in New York, but never the Algonquin tribe. This is a mistake that happened because of the similar spellings of these words. Algonquian tribes located in New York included theMahican and Wappinger tribes, theMontauk and Shinnecock tribes, and theMunsee Delaware tribe. You can visit this map ofNew York Indian tribes to see where in New York each of those tribes lived.

Algonquin band flags

Each Algonquin community lives on its own reserve, also known as a reservation. Reserves are land that belongs to the tribe and is legally under their control. Each Algonquin tribe--known as aband or First Nation in Canada--is politically independent and has its own leadership. Algonquin First Nations have their own government, laws, police, and services, just like small countries. However, the Algonquins are also Canadian citizens and must obey Canadian law.

The leader of each Algonquin band is called ogima or ogema, which is translated as "chief" in English. The ogima used to be chosen by tribal councilmembers, often from the last chief's sons, nephews, or sons-in-law. Today chiefs are elected by the Algonquins, just like governors or mayors.

Some bands are English-speaking, and others are French-speaking. About half the Algonquin population also speak their nativeAlgonquin language. Algonquin is a musical language that has complicated verbs with many parts. If you'd like to learn a few easy Algonquin words, "kwey" (rhymes with "day") is a friendly greeting and "mìgwech" (pronunciation meeg-waitch) means "thank you." You can listen to an Algonquin woman talk in her languagehere and see an Algonquin picture glossaryhere.

Here's a link to theAlgonquin Nation Tribal Council homepage. There you can find information about three Algonquin communities in the past and today.

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They do the same things all children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Algonquin children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play, like early colonial children. But they did have toys, games and dolls, like this 18th-century doll in its miniature cradleboard. Algonquin mothers, like ma ny Native Americans, carried their babies in cradleboards like these. Older Algonquin kids enjoyed playing lacrosse like the adults. In some communities only men and teenage boys played lacrosse, but in others, girls and women played as well.

What were Algonquin men and women's roles?
Algonquin women gathered plants to eat and did most of the child care and cooking. Men were hunters and sometimes fought wars to protect their families. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine. In the past, the Algonquin Indian chief was always a man, but today a woman can be chief too.

What were Algonquin homes like in the past?

The Algonquins didn't live in tepees. For most of the year they lived in settled villages of birchbark houses, called waginogans or wigwams. Algonquin wigwams were usually dome-shaped and not very large-- only a single family unit lived in each one. In some Algonquin communities, multiple families from the same clan would live together in a much larger birchbark longhouse, like their Iroquois neighbors. During the winter, the village split up to go to hunting camps, and each Algonquin family would build a cone-shaped shelter like this for their camp. These shelters were temporary and were discarded whenever the family needed to move. At the end of winter, they would move back to the permanent summer lodges in their village. Here are some more pictures of American Indian houses like the ones the Algonquins used.

Today, Native Americans only build a birchbark lodge for fun or to connect with their heritage. Most Algonquin people live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

What was Algonquin clothing like? Did they wear feather headdresses and face paint?

What was Algonquin transportation like in the days before cars? Did they paddle canoes?

Chief Rocky Boy

Moccasin

Algonquin women wore long dresses with removable sleeves and the men wore breechcloths and leggings. Both genders wore moccasins on their feet and cloaks in bad weather. Later, the Algonquins adapted European costume such as cloth blouses and buckskin jackets, decorating the front with fancy beadwork. The Ojibway chief to the left is wearing the same style of clothing Algonquin men did. Here are more pictures of Ojibway and Algonquin clothing styles, and some photos and links about Native American clothing in general.

Some Algonquin warriors wore their hair in the Mohawk style, shaving the sides and using grease to stiffen the strip of hair in the middle so that it stood up high. Otherwise, Algonquin men and women both wore their hair in long braids. Some men wore a porcupine roach with a feather in it. (These roaches are made of porcupine hair, not the sharp quills!) In the 1800's, some Algonquin chiefs began wearing a feathered headdress like their neighbors the Sioux. The Algonquins painted their faces and arms with bright colors. They used different patterns for war paint and festive decoration. Some Algonquin men also wore elaborate tribal tattoos.

Today, some Algonquin people still wear moccasins or a buck skin jacket, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths... and they only wear feathers in their hair on special occasions like a dance.

Algonquin canoe

Yes--the Algonquin Indian tribe was famous for their birchbark canoes. Here is a website with pictures of Native American canoes. Canoeing is still popular in the Algonquin nation today. Over land, the Algonquins used dogs as pack animals. (There were no horses in North America unt il colonists brought them over from Europe.) The Algonquins used sleds and snowshoes to help them travel in the winter.

Today, of course, Algonquin people also use cars... and non-native people also use canoes.

What are Algonquin arts and crafts like?

What was Algonquin food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Algonquins were hunting people. They hunted for deer, moose, and small game, and went fishing in the rivers and lakes. Some Algonquin communities grew corn and squash in small gardens, but most Algonquins only got foods like those in trade with neighboring tribes. Besides fish and meat, the Algonquins gathered berries and wild plants to eat. They also made maple syrup from tree sap, and cooked soups, stews and breads. Here is a recipe for Algonquin nut soup, and a website with more information about Native American food.

What were Algonquin weapons and tools like in the past?
Algonquin Indians used bows and arrows or spears for hunting. Algonquin hunters also built traps like the ones in this picture to catch deer and other game animals. Algonquin fishermen used pronged spears to stab fish from their canoes or through holes in the ice, instead of fishing with hooks. Algonquin warriors fought each other with war clubs, spears, or tomahawks. Here is a picture of an Anishinabe war club, and a website with pictures and more information about Native American weapons in general.

Do you have ideas for an Algonquin art project I can do for school?
We recommend making a

Algonquin artists are known for their beadwork and basketry arts. Like other eastern American Indians, Algonquins also craftedwampum out of white and purple shell beads. Wampum beads were traded as a kind of currency, but they were more culturally important as an art material. The symbols and designs on wampum belts often told a story or represented a person's family. Today, Algonquin people also create contemporary art like oil paintings. You can visit this site to see photographs of Algonquin paintings.

dreamcatcher. Dreamcatchers are a traditional Anishinaabe children's craft made as mobiles for babies. They are not religious and are appropriate for school projects. Traditionally dream catchers were made out of bent twigs and some sinew thread, but you could make one out of any round frame and string. Here are some goodonline instructions about how to make a dream catcher.

What other Native Americans did the Algonquin tribe interact with?

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Facts for Kids: Algonquin Indians (Algonquins)

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Information about the Algonquin Indians for students and teachers. Covers Algonquin villages and homes, legends and art, clothing, canoes, and history of the tribe.

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Indigenous Peoples Day Song For Kids (ASL Sign Language Lesson Included)

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Native Americans would use porcupine hairs to make hairbrushes. Sometimes a stick was cut into the right shape and frayed at the edges to make a toothbrush.

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What is one fact that you found interesting?

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5 Iroquois Facts For Kids

navajocodetalkersadmin on December 22, 2014 - 10:00 am in Fun Facts for Kids

Learning fun facts about Iroquois Indians allows you to take a closer look at history and broaden your understanding of this group of people.

1. What Does the Term Mean?

The term Iroquois has a deeper meaning than you might think. It comes from a French term known as Algonkian and is translated into English as "real snakes." This term might be seen as insulting to some but this group of people were seen to be traditional enemies. This means that they were not looked at with much respect.

2. Who Were Iroquois Tribes?

There were primarily 5 tribes that were identified as Iroquois tribes. This includes the Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga and Cayuga tribes. In time there was even a with tribe that was added and referred to as Iroquois, which is the Tuscarora tribe. There are even a few tribes that were periodically referred to as Iroquois. However, the Huron and Cherokee were not always a welcomed member of the Iroquois confederacy and actually warred with them from time to time.

3. Where Did Iroquois Tribes Live?

The land where Iroquois tribes live was located in the northeastern woodlands, which is now known as New York State. There are even many Iroquois that still call New York home even today. However, some members of Iroquois tribes were forced to move over time and relocated to Oklahoma, Wisconsin and even Canada. Many Iroquois descendants still reside in these 4 regions of the world.

4. What Language Do They Speak?

Since there were about six different tribes that came together to make the Iroquois, it only stands to reason that there were 6 primary languages that were spoken. All of these languages were closely related to one another in the same way that Spanish, French and Italian languages are connected in some way. However, it is true that many of the most powerful Iroquois men spoke Mohawk. This was the language that was primarily spoken at the Great Council meetings and was a sign of power.

5. What Do Iroquois Speak Today?

Many Iroquois that are still living have adapted to current culture in many ways. This means that they speak primarily English. However, there are many elders of this tribe that still speak their native languages. Many Iroquois still hold firm to their religious beliefs, but have adapts to society in other ways. Many Iroquois are still living even today.

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5 Iroquois Facts For Kids | Navajo Code Talkers

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navajocodetalkersadmin on December 22, 2014 - 10:00 am in Fun Facts for Kids Learning fun facts about Iroquois Indians allows you to take a closer look at history and broaden your understanding of this group of people. The term Iroquois has a deeper meaning than you might think.

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We are about to present a kaleidoscope of 15 facts about Native Americans to enable our dear readers get to know these amazing tribes better. I have always been fascinated by the intriguing culture and traditions associated with native Americans, and have at last found a platform to show the world some really interesting Native Americans facts. Instead of covering the usual politicized stories about these people, I have tried bringing other cool facts that will make everyone really want to know the real Native Americans, just the way they are!

1. Native Americans believed in the theory of self reliance

Image Credit: native-american-totems

The most interesting fact associated with the Native Americans was that these people were highly self reliant and independent. Both Native American men and women folk produced their own food, did agriculture single handedly using own hand made tools, and constructed houses from materials from the forest. Even the clothes they wore were tailored by themselves. The Native American people have always been independent and this is one of the reasons why they have rejected modern concepts about ways of living.

2. Coeur d'Alenes, the American Indians of the Great Plateau were skilled fishermen and traders

Image Credit: blogspot

If you are not aware, let us bring it to your notice that Coeur d'Alenes, a Native American tribe belonging to the Great Plateau were skilled fishermen and traders. The name Coeur d'Alenes translates to mean discovered people. This tribe is known to have possessed extra ordinary knowledge about water and were skilled fishermen who contributed to Idaho's economy as well. These people run several business and are master tradesmen too. The Coeur d'Alenes are one of the five tribes to have been attributed recognition from Idaho government.

3. Native Americans volunteered to fight in World War II freely

Image Credit: lardbucket

Here is one very interesting fact related with the history of Native Americans. These free spirited and courageous people freely displayed their full support to fight in World War II. While, for most American guys, the government would direct them to join the forces, the native Americans enlisted their names rather freely and wholeheartedly. According to some historians, these natives would stand in bad weather just to sign their draft cards. The Native Americans were always ready to defend their country and even took their own rifles in the battle zone.

4. Native Americans invented creative hairstyles

Image Credit: xpatnation

The typical Hollywood movies have always stereotyped the way Native Americans look and dress themselves. But, you will be amazed that the Native American women are actually trendsetters as far as hair dressing is concerned. The women folk since centuries have invented lots of creative hairstyles, the example of which you can see below. Its not just the usually shown long hair with feathers and beads that these women wore, but a plethora of buns and braids that they invented.

5. Native Americans developed anesthetics using medicinal plants

Image Credit: wikimedia

One of the most fascinating facts about Native Americans is these folks were skilled at using anesthetics much before it was invented by the Europeans. The natives including all the tribes were first to make use of anesthetics in treating war wounds and injuries. In the happening of some unfortunate accident or surgery, the native American doctor or voodoo man would make use of medicinal plants and use it to desensitize the affected part of the body. Once the wound was desensitized, then only the doctor would proceed further with the operation. The plants used for this purpose were peyote and coca. This practice was in use much before the advent of the 19th century.

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15 Interesting Facts About Native Americans |

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We are about to present a kaleidoscope of 15 facts about Native Americans to enable our dear readers get to know these amazing tribes better. I have always been fascinated by the intriguing culture and traditions associated with native Americans, and have at last found a platform to show the world some really interesting Native Americans facts.

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The Mohawk hairstyle is named after the Mohawks, one of the tribes that made up the Iroquois nation. The Mohawk people also liked to keep one side of their scalp cleanly shaven while the other side was painted a bright color.

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What was life as a Native American child like?

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What was life as a Native American child like?

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Write one fact that you learned.

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Traditional Life as a Native American Child

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Kids learn about what life was like as a Native American Child before the europeans arrived including early childhood, punishment, growing up, school, and fun facts.