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Facts for Kids: Cayuga Indians (Cayugas)

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Information about the Cayuga Indians for students and teachers. Covers Cayuga tribes in Canada and the United States, with facts about Cayuga Indian food, clothing, houses, artifacts, and customs.

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Facts for Kids: Onondaga Indians (Onondagas)

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Information about the Onondaga Indians for students and teachers. Covers Onondaga tribes in Canada and the United States, with facts about Onondaga Indian food, clothing, houses, villages, art and crafts, weapons and tools, legends, and customs of the Onondaga people.

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Native American language index Native American tribes Native American art
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Oneidas for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit ourOneida language and culture pages for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Oneida pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages. Photographs are the property of the sources we have credited.

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Oneida Tribe

Oneida girls Oneida dancer

Oneida is pronounced "oh-NYE-dah." It comes from their word for themselves in their own language, Onyota'aka, which means "people of the standing stone."

The Oneida tribe originally lived inNew York state. Many Oneidas still live there today, though others were forced to move to Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada.

Iroquois wampum belt

Yes, the Oneida tribe was one of the original members of the Iroquois Confederacy, or Kanonsionni in their own language ("league of clans.") The other member nations were the Mohawk, the Seneca, the Cayuga, and the Onondaga. Later a sixth tribe, the Tuscarora, joined the confederacy. Today these long-term allies refer to themselves as theHaudenosaunee ("people of the longhouse") or Six Nations.

Flags of Oneida bands

The Oneida nation had a tribal council chosen by the Oneida clan mothers (matriarchs, or female leaders.) But the Oneidas were also subject to the decisions made by the Iroquois Great Council. Nine Oneida chiefs represented their tribe's interests in the Iroquois Council. This is similar to American states which each have their own government, but are all subject to the US government. In fact, the Iroquois Confederacy was one of the examples of representative democracy used as a model by America's founding fathers.

Like other Native Americans in the United States, the Oneida Indians live onreservations today. A reservation is land that belongs to an Indian tribe and is under their control. There are two Oneida tribes: one in New York and one in Wisconsin. Each of these tribes is governed by a council that is elected by its citizens. Other Oneida people live on the Six Nations Reserve, which they share with members of the other Iroquois nations.

Most Oneida people speak English today. Some Oneidas, especially tribal elders, also speak their nativeOneida language. Oneida is a complex language with many sounds different from English. You can hear Oneida being spokenhere. If you'd like to know a few easy Oneida words, "shekó:lih" (pronounced sheh-koh-leeh) is a friendly greeting, and "yawv́" (pronounced similar to yah-wunh) means 'thank you.' You can also read an Oneida picture glossaryhere.

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

Here is a link to theNew York Oneida Nation, where you can find information about the Oneida people past and present.

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Cornhusk dolls

They do the same things any children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Oneida 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 have cornhusk dolls, toys, and games, such as one game where kids tried to throw a dart through a moving hoop. Lacrosse was a popular sport among Iroquois boys as it was among adult men. Like many Native Americans, Oneida mothers traditionally carried their babies in cradleboard carriers on their backs--a custom which many American parents have adopted.

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

Oneida men were in charge of hunting, trading, and war. Oneida women were in charge of farming, property, and family. These different roles were also reflected in Oneida government. Oneida clans were always ruled by women, who made all the land and resource decisions for each clan. But the chiefs, who made military decisions and trade agreements, were always men. Only men represented the Oneidas at the Iroquois Great Council, but only women voted to determine who the Oneida representatives would be. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine.

The Oneida people lived in villages of longhouses, which were large wood-frame buildings covered with sheets of elm bark. Each longhouse was up to a hundred feet long, and housed an entire clan (as many as 60 people.) Here are some pictures of Native American longhouses like the ones Oneida Indians used. Today, longhouses are only used for ceremonial purposes. The Oneidas live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Oneida warrior

Iroquois moccasins

Oneida men wore breechcloths with leggings. Oneida women wore wraparound skirts with shorter leggings. Men did not originally wear shirts in Oneida culture, but women often wore a poncho-like tunic called an overdress. Oneida Indians usually wore moccasins on their feet. In colonial times, the Oneidas adapted European costume like cloth shirts and blouses, decorating them with beadwork and ribbon applique. Here is a webpage about traditional Iroquois dress, and some photographs and links about American Indian clothes in general.

The Oneidas didn't wear long headdresses like the Sioux. Oneida men wore traditional Iroquois headdresses, which are feathered caps with a different insignia for each tribe. (The Oneida headdress has two eagle feathers standing straight and one trailing behind.) Oneida women sometimes wore special beaded tiaras. In times of war, Oneida men often shaved their heads except for a scalplock or a crest down the center of their head--the style known as a roach or a "Mohawk." Sometimes they would augment this hairstyle with splayed feathers or artificial roaches made of brightly dyed porcupine and deer hair. Here are some pictures of these different kinds of Indian headwear. Oneida women only cut their hair when they were in mourning. Otherwise they wore it long and loose or plaited into a long braid. Oneida men sometimes decorated their faces and bodies with tribal tattoo art, but Oneida women generally didn't paint or tattoo themselves.

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

Sometimes--the Oneida Indians did use elm-bark or dugout canoes for fishing trips, but they usually preferred to travel by land. Originally the Oneida tribe used dogs as pack animals. (There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe.) In wintertime, the Oneidas used laced snowshoes and sleds to travel through the snow.

What was Oneida food like in the days before supermarkets?

The Oneida Indians were farming people. Oneida women planted crops of corn, beans, and squash and harvested wild berries and herbs. Oneida men hunted for deer and elk and fished in the rivers and the shores of Lake Ontario. Oneida Indian recipes included cornbread, soups, and stews, which they cooked on stone hearths. Here is a website with more information about Native food.

Oneida hunters used bows and arrows. Oneida fishermen used spears and fishing poles. In war, Oneida men used their bows and arrows or fought with clubs, spears and shields. Here is a website with pictures and information about Native American war weapons.

Other important tools used by the Oneidas included stone adzes (hand axes for woodworking), flint knives for skinning animals, and wooden hoes for farming. The Oneidas and other Iroquois were skilled woodworkers, steaming wood so that it could be bent to make curved tools. Some Iroquois artisans still make lacrosse sticks this way today.

The Oneida and other Iroquois tribes were known for their mask carving, which is considered such a sacred art form that outsiders are still not permitted to view many of these masks. Native American beadwork and the more demanding porcupine quillwork are more common Oneida crafts. The Oneidas 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 designs and pictures on wampum belts often told a story or represented a person's family.

The two most important Oneida instruments are drums and flutes. Iroquois drums were often filled with water to give them a distinctive sound different from the drums of other tribes. Most Oneida music is very rhythmic and consists mostly of drumming and lively singing. Flutes were used to woo women in the Oneida tribe. A young Oneida man would play beautiful flute music outside his girlfriend's longhouse at night to show her he was thinking about her.

What other Native Americans did the Oneida tribe interact with?
The most important neighbors of the Oneida tribe were the other Iroquois nations: theSeneca, Onondaga,Cayuga, and Mohawk. Before the Iroquois Confederacy existed the Oneidas sometimes fought with the other Iroquois tribes, but once the alliance was formed they were loyal to each other. The Iroquois were fierce warriors who fought with most of the other eastern tribes, particularly theWabanaki tribes, theAlgonquin andOjibway, and theMohican bands. The Oneidas also engaged in trade with their neighbors, exchanging corn and woodcrafts for furs and quahog shells.

There are lots of traditional Oneida legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Oneida Indian culture. Here is an Oneida story about theorigin of mosquitoes. Here's a website where you can read more aboutOneida legends.

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 aboutIroquois beliefs or this site aboutNative religion in general.

Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
One book about the Oneida community for younger readers is The Oneida, which has many photographs about traditional and contemporary Oneida life.Did You Hear Wind Sing Your Name is a picture book written by an Oneida author, which illustrates some of the Oneida worldview.Lacrosse: The National Game of the Iroquois is a lively look at the origins of this traditional sport and Iroquois culture in general, tracing the lives three generations of Iroquois lacrosse players.Legends of the Iroquois is a good collection of traditional Six Nations stories by a Mohawk author.Wampum Belts of the Iroquois is an interesting look at the symbolism and significance of the different wampum belt designs used by the Oneida and other Iroquois peoples. OrIf You Lived With The Iroquois provides a good look at daily life in the Iroquois tribes in the old days. You can also browse through our reading list of recommendedAmerican 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 Oneida Indian people and their language!

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Oneida Indian Tribe
An overview of the Oneida people, their language and history.

Oneida Dictionary
Short vocabulary of Oneida Indian words.

Oneida Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Oneida tribe past and present.

Iroquois League
Information and links about the Iroquois Confederacy.

Return to our Native American website for children
Return to our menu of Native American cultures

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Facts for Kids: Oneida Indians (Oneidas)

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Information about the Oneida Indians for students and teachers. Covers Oneida tribes in Canada and the United States, with facts about Oneida Indian food, clothing, houses, villages, art and crafts, weapons and tools, legends, and customs of the Oneida people.

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Facts for Kids: Mohawk Indians (Mohawks)

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Information about the Mohawk Indians for students and teachers. Covers Mohawk tribes in Canada and the United States, with facts about Mohawk Indian food and clothing, houses and villages, art and crafts, weapons and tools, legends, and customs of the Mohawks.

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Native American language Native American tribes Native American crafts
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Senecas for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit ourSeneca language and culture pages for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Seneca pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages. Photographs are the property of the sources we have credited.

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Seneca Tribe

Seneca lady Seneca dancer

Seneca is pronounced "SEH-neh-kah." It comes from the name of one of their villages, Osininka. In their own language, the Senecas call themselvesOnandowaga, which means "people of the mountain."

The Senecas originally lived in New York state. Here is amap of Seneca and other Iroquois territory in New York. Many Seneca people still live in New York today, but others were forced to migrate to Oklahoma or Canada.

Iroquois flag

Yes, the Seneca nation was one of the original members of the Iroquois League, or Kanonsionni in their own language ("league of clans.") The other member nations were the the Oneida, the Cayuga, the Onondaga, and the Mohawk tribe, Later on the Tuscarora tribe also joined the confederacy. Today these long-term allies refer to themselves as theHaudenosaunee ("people of the longhouse") or Six Nations.

The Seneca nation had a tribal council chosen by the Senecaclan mothers (matriarchs, or female leaders.) But the Senecas were also subject to the decisions made by the Iroquois Great Council. Eight Seneca chiefs represented their tribe's interests in the Iroquois Council. This is similar to American states which each have their own government, but are all subject to the US government. In fact, the Iroquois Confederacy was one of the examples of representative democracy used as a model by America's founding fathers.

Today there are three Seneca bands in New York, each with its ownreservation. A reservation is land that belongs to an Indian tribe and is under their control. Each Seneca tribe has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country. But the Senecas are also US citizens and must obey American law. There is also a combined Seneca-Cayuga tribe in Oklahoma, and some Seneca people live on the Six Nations Reserve in Canada, which they share with members of the other Iroquois nations.

Most Seneca people speak English today, but some elders also speak their nativeSeneca language. Seneca is a complex language with many sounds that are unlike the sounds in English. If you'd like to know a few easy Seneca words, "sgëno'" (pronounced similar to sgay-noh) is a friendly greeting, and "niyawë" (pronounced similar to nee-yah-wenh) means 'thank you.' You can hear Seneca words being spokenhere and read a Seneca picture glossaryhere.

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

Here is the home page of the Seneca Nation of New York, where you can find information about the Seneca Indians past and present.

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Cornhusk dolls

They do the same things any children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Seneca 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 have corn husk dolls, toys, and games, such as one game where kids tried to throw a dart through a moving hoop. Lacrosse was also a popular sport among Seneca boys as it was among adult men. Like many Native Americans, Seneca Indian mothers traditionally carried their babies in cradleboard carriers. on their backs--a custom which many American parents have adopted.

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

Seneca men were in charge of hunting, trading, and war. Seneca women were in charge of farming, property, and family. These different roles were also reflected in Seneca government. Seneca clans were always ruled by women, who made the land and resource decisions for each clan. But the chiefs, who made military decisions and trade agreements, were always men. Only men represented the Seneca Nation at the Iroquois Great Council, but only women voted to determine who the Seneca representatives would be. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine.

The Seneca Indians lived in villages of longhouses, which were large wood-frame buildings covered with sheets of elm bark. Seneca homes could be a hundred feet long, and an entire clan lived in each one--up to 60 people! Here are some pictures of an Indian longhouse like the one the Senecas used, and a drawing of what longhouses looked like on the inside. Today, longhouses are only used for ceremonial purposes. The Senecas live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Seneca headdress

Seneca clothes

Seneca men wore breechcloths with leggings. Seneca women wore wraparound skirts with shorter leggings. Men did not originally wear shirts in Seneca culture, but women often wore a long tunic called a kilt or overdress. Like most Native Americans, the Senecas wore moccasins on their feet. Here is a website with pictures of moccasins. In colonial times, the Seneca tribe adapted European costume like cloth shirts and blouses, decorating them with beadwork and ribbon applique. Here is a webpage about traditional Iroquois dress, and here are some photographs and links about Native clothing style in general.

The Senecas didn't wear long headdresses like the Sioux. Men wore traditional Iroquois headdresses, which were feathered caps with a different insignia for each tribe. (The Seneca headdress has one eagle feather standing straight on top of it.) Seneca women sometimes wore special beaded tiaras. In times of war, Seneca men often shaved their heads except for a scalplock or a crest down the center of their head. This is popularly known as a Mohawk hairstyle, but warriors in all the Iroquois tribes, including the Seneca, wore their hair this way. Sometimes they would augment this hairstyle with splayed feathers or artificial roaches made of brightly dyed porcupine and deer hair. Here are some pictures of these different kinds of Native headdress. Seneca women only cut their hair when they were in mourning. Otherwise they wore it long and loose or plaited into a long braid. Men sometimes decorated their faces and bodies with Indian tattoo designs, but Seneca women generally didn't paint or tattoo themselves.

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

Sometimes--the Seneca Indians did use elm-bark or dugout canoes for fishing trips, but usually preferred to travel by land. Originally the Seneca tribe used dogs as pack animals. (There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe.) In wintertime, the Senecas used laced snowshoes and sleds to travel through the snow.

What was Seneca food like in the days before supermarkets?

The Seneca Indians were farming people. Seneca women planted crops of corn, beans, and squash and harvested wild berries and herbs. Seneca men hunted deer and elk and fished in the rivers and the shores of Lake Ontario. Seneca Indian foods included cornbread, soups, and stews, which they cooked on stone hearths. Here is a website with more information about Indian farms.

Seneca hunters used bows and arrows. Seneca fishermen used spears and fishing poles. Seneca warriors used their bows and arrows or fought with clubs, spears and shields. Here are pictures and information about the Native American spear and other traditional weapons. Other Seneca artifacts included stone adzes (hand axes for woodworking), flint knives for skinning animals, and wooden hoes for farming. The Senecas and other Iroquois were skilled woodworkers, steaming wood so that it could be bent to make curved tools. Some Iroquois artisans still make lacrosse sticks this way today.

The Seneca Indians were known for their false face masks, which are considered such a sacred art form that outsiders are still not permitted to view many of these masks. Native American beadwork and quilling art are more common Seneca crafts. The Senecas 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 designs and pictures on wampum belts often told a story or represented a person's family.

The two most important Seneca instruments are drums and flutes. Iroquois drums were often filled with water to give them a distinctive sound different from the drums of other tribes. Most Seneca music is very rhythmic and consists mostly of drumming and lively singing. Flutes were used to woo women in the Seneca tribe. A young Seneca man would play beautiful flute music outside his girlfriend's longhouse at night to show her he was thinking about her.

What other Native Americans did the Seneca tribe interact with?
The most important neighbors of the Seneca tribe were the other Iroquois nations: theCayuga, Onondaga,Oneida, and Mohawks. Before the Iroquois Confederacy existed the Senecas sometimes fought with the other Iroquois tribes, but once the alliance was formed they were loyal to each other. The Iroquois were fierce warriors who fought with most of the other eastern tribes, particularly theWabanaki, theAnishinaabe, and theMohican tribe. The Senecas also engaged in trade with their neighbors, exchanging corn and woodcrafts for furs and quahog shells.

There are lots of traditional Seneca legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Seneca Indian culture. Here is a Seneca story about arace between Bear and Turtle. Here's a website where you can read more aboutSeneca myths.

Spirituality and religion were important parts of Seneca life, and some people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Seneca people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more aboutIroquois religion or this site aboutNative belief in general.

Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
You may enjoy One Real American, a biography of a 19th-century Seneca general. One book about the Seneca tribe for younger readers isThe Seneca, which has many photographs about traditional and contemporary Seneca life.Lacrosse: The National Game of the Iroquois is a lively look at the origins of this traditional sport and Iroquois culture in general, tracing the lives three generations of Iroquois lacrosse players.Legends of the Iroquois is a good collection of traditional Six Nations stories, retold by a Mohawk author.Wampum Belts of the Iroquois is an interesting look at the symbolism and significance of the different wampum belt designs used by the Seneca and other Iroquois peoples. OrIf You Lived With The Iroquois provides a good look at daily life in the Iroquois tribes in the old days. You can also browse through our reading list of recommendedbooks on American Indians in general. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

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 2020.

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

Sponsored Links

Seneca Native American Tribe
An overview of the Seneca Indian tribe, their language and history.

Seneca Dictionary
Short vocabulary of Seneca Indian words.

Seneca Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Seneca tribe past and present.

Iroquois Confederacy
Information and links about the Iroquois League.

Return to our Native American website for children
Return to our menu of Native American cultures

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Facts for Kids: Seneca Indians (Senecas)

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Information about the Seneca Indians for students and teachers. Covers Seneca tribes in Canada and the United States, with facts about Seneca Indian food, clothing, houses, villages, art and crafts, weapons and tools, legends, and customs of the Seneca people.

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North American Indian languages North American Indian tribes First Nation arts
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Ottawas for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to look through our mainOttawa language andculture pages for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Ottawa pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

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Ottawa Tribe

Ottawa is pronounced "AH-ta-wa," the same as the city in Canada (which was named after them.) It is spelled Odawa in their native language, and it means "traders." The Ottawa people call themselvesAnishinabe in their own language, which means 'original person.'

The Ottawa tribe is related to theChippewa tribe (also known as the Ojibway tribe.) The Chippewas and Ottawas have similar customs and speak dialects of the same language--just like Americans and Canadians speak English with different accents. But like America and Canada, the Chippewa and Ottawa tribes were politically independent. After Europeans arrived, some Chippewa and Ottawa bands merged together, but in most cases, the two nations remain independent today.

Most Ottawa Indian people live in their original homeland in southern Ontario andMichigan state. Other Ottawas were deported to Oklahoma by the US government, and some Ottawas assimilated into Ojibway bands. There are about 15,000 Ottawa Indians today.

Each Ottawa community lives on its ownreservation (or reserve, in Canada.) Reservations are lands that belong to Indian tribes and are under their control. Communities of Ottawa Indians are calledtribes in the United States and First Nations in Canada. Each Ottawa tribe is politically independent and has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country. Some Ottawa bands have formed coalitions withChippewa bands to address common problems.

The political leader of an Ottawa band is called achief (gimaa or ogimaa in the Ottawa/Ojibway language.) In the past Ottawa chiefs were men chosen by tribal councilmembers, often from among the last chief's sons, nephews, or sons-in-law. Today Ottawa chiefs are elected in most Ottawa bands, like mayors and governors.

There are about 15,000 citizens of Ottawa Indian bands in Michigan, Ontario, and Oklahoma today. There are also other people who are Ottawa descendants but are not tribal members.

Most Ottawa people speak English, but some of them also speak their nativeOdawa language. Odawa is usually considered a dialect of theOjibwa language. Odawa and Ojibwa speakers have different accents, just like American and Canadian English speakers. Here is acomparison of Odawa, Ojibway, and Algonquin vocabulary. If you'd like to learn a few easy Odawa words,aaniin (pronounced ah-neen) is a friendly greeting and miigwech (pronounced mee-gwetch) means "thank you." You can listen to an Ojibway man talk his languagehere and read a picture glossaryhere.

Here is the homepage of Little Traverse Bay Odawa tribal administratorFred Harrington. On his site you can find information about the Ottawa people 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 Ottawa 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 and toys to play with, and older boys liked to playlacrosse. Like many Native Americans, Ottawa mothers traditionally carried their babies incradleboards on their backs--a custom which many American parents haveadopted now.

Ottawa women were farmers and did most of the child care and cooking. Ottawa men were hunters and sometimes went to war to protect their families. Both genders practiced story-telling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine. In the past, Ottawa chiefs were always men, but today an Ottawa Indian woman could be chief too.

Ottawa people didn't live in tepees. They lived in villages of birchbark houses calledwaginogan, or wigwams. There were also longhouses and sweat lodges in Ottawa villages. Here are somepictures of American Indian housing like the homes Ottawa Indians used. Today, Native Americans only build a wigwam for fun or to connect with their heritage. Most Ottawas live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Ottawa women wore long dresses with detachable sleeves, and in the winter, they wore robes made of rabbit skin. But Ottawa men usually went naked or wore only a cloak, even in cold weather and in battle, to show how tough they were. The Ottawas usually woreleather moccasins on their feet. In colonial times, the Ottawas adapted European clothing like cloth blouses and jackets, decorating them withfancy beadwork. Here are some more photographs and links aboutnative costume in general.

Traditionally, the Ottawas wore leather headbands with feathers standing up in the back. In the 1800's, some Ottawa men began wearing long headdresses like their neighbors theSioux. Other Ottawa men wore their hair in theMohawk style, using grease to spike their hair very high in front, and sometimes added a porcupine roach. Here are some pictures of these different styles ofNative American head dress. Ottawa women usually wore one long braid. The Ottawas often painted their faces and arms, using different patterns for war paint and festive decoration. Ottawa men also wore extensivetribal tattoos over their whole bodies.

Today, some Ottawa people still wear moccasins or a beaded shirt, but they also wear modern clothes like jeans... and they only wear feathers in their hair on special occasions like a dance.

Yes--the Ottawa Indian tribe was well-known for their birchbark canoes. Here is a website withbirchbark canoe pictures. Canoeing is still popular within the Ottawa nation today. Over land, the Ottawas used dogs as pack animals. (There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe.) The Ottawas also had sleds and snowshoes to help them travel in the winter. Today, of course, Ottawa people also use cars... and non-native people also use canoes.

What was Ottawa food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Ottawas were farming people. Ottawa women grew crops of corn, beans, and squash. Ottawa men hunted deer and small game and went fishing in their canoes. Ottawa Indian foods included cornbread and soups. Here is a website with more information aboutNative American crops.

Ottawa hunters and warriors used bows and arrows, clubs, and hide shields. Ottawa fishermen used bone fishhooks and sinew lines. Here is a website with pictures and information abouttraditional Native American weapons.

Ottawa artists are known for theirbeadwork andbasketry. Like other eastern American Indians, Ottawa Indians 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.

There are lots of traditional Ottawa legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Ottawa Indian culture. Here is an Ottawa story aboutwhy corn and beans are planted together. Here's a website where you can read more aboutOttawa myths.

Spirituality and religion were important parts of Ottawa life, and some people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Ottawa people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more aboutOttawa religious traditions or this site aboutNative American beliefs in general.

Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
You may enjoy Shadow of the Wolf. That is a historical fiction novel for young readers about a nineteenth-century Michigan girl interacting with thePotawatomi and Ottawa Indians. If you want to know more about Ottawa culture and history, one good source for kids isThe Ottawa. You may be interested in this biography of Ottawa Chief Pontiac,Forest Warrior. You can also browse through our recommendations ofNative American books in general. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

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 2020.

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

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Ottawa Indian Tribe
An overview of the Ottawa people, their language and history.

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Odawa/Ojibway language samples, articles, and indexed links.

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Related links about the Ottawa tribe past and present.

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Ottawa Indian vocabulary lists.

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Facts for Kids: Ottawa Indians (Ottawas, Odawas)

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North American Indian languages North American Indian tribes First Nation arts Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Ottawas for school or home-schooling reports.

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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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Facts for Kids: The Beothuk Indians (Skraeling, Red Indian, Beothuks)

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Information about the Beothuk (Red) Indians of Newfoundland for students and teachers. Includes biographies of Demasduit and Shawnadithit, Viking contact with the skraelings before 1492, and other information on the Beothuks' culture and history.

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Indigenous languages Native American tribes Native American arts
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people in search of Wyandot Indian information for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit our mainWyandot website for more in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Wyandot pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

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Wyandot Tribe

Wyandot is pronounced "WHY-an-dot." It comes from their tribal name, Wendat, which means "peninsula people." Some Wyandot people in Oklahoma use the spellingWyandotte instead.

Yes.Huron was the French name for the Wyandot tribe. It means "wild boar" in French. The French thought that theMohawk haircuts of the Huron warriors looked like the bristles on a wild boar's neck.

No. The Wyandot language is related to the Iroquois languages, but the Wyandots have never been part of the Iroquois Confederacy. In fact, they were usually enemies of the Iroquois.

The Wyandots are original residents of the St. Lawrence Valley in Quebec. Some Wyandot people still live there today, in the Huron-Wendat First Nation. Many other Wyandots fled to Ohio and Michigan after a defeat by the Iroquois. Most of their descendants were forced to move to Kansas and Oklahoma along with other US tribes during the Indian Removals of the 1800's. Here is amap showing Wyandot and other Indian migrations.

There are two Wyandot communities in the United States--one in Oklahoma and one in Kansas--and a third community in Quebec, Canada. A Wyandot community is known as atribe in the US and a First Nation in Canada. Each Wyandot tribe or First Nation lives on its ownreservation or reserve, which is land that belongs to the tribe and is legally under their control.

In the past, the Wyandots had a political confederacy, similar to the Iroquois Confederacy. The Wendat or Huron Confederacy was governed by a council of chiefs, one from each Wyandot band. Today, the three Wyandot tribes are politically independent. Each one has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country.

Wyandot people in the United States speak English today, and in Canada, most Hurons speak French. In the past, they spoke their nativeHuron-Wendat language. The last fluent Huron-Wendat speakers died in the 1960's, but there are still Wyandot elders who remember some of the language, and today some young people are trying to learn Huron-Wendat again. If you'd like to learn a few easy Wyandot words,kweh (pronounced kway) is a friendly greeting andtizameh (pronounced tih-zhuh-may) means "thank you." You can see a Huron-Wendat picture glossaryhere.

Here is the homepage of theWyandot Nation of Kansas, where you can learn about the Wyandot people past and present.

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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 Wyandot 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 colonial children. But they did havecorn husk dolls, toys, and games to play, such as snowsnake, where kids tried to glide a game piece furthest across the snow.Lacrosse was a popular sport among Wyandot teenagers as it was among adult men. Like many Native Americans, Wyandot mothers traditionally carried their babies incradleboards on their backs--a custom which many American parents haveadopted now.

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

Like their distant cousins theIroquois, the Wyandots had an even division of power between men and women. Wyandot men were in charge of hunting, war, and diplomacy. Wyandot women were in charge of farming, property, and family. Men made political decisions for the tribe, and women made decisions for the clans. Only men could be chiefs, but only women could vote on who got to be the chief.

Today, traditional Wyandot gender roles have diminished. Wyandot women can be council members too... and Wyandot men get to vote!

The Wyandot Indians lived in villages oflonghouses, which were large wood-frame houses covered with sheets of bark. One Wyandot house could be 150 feet long, and an entire clan lived in it--up to 60 people! Many Wyandot villages hadpalisades (reinforced walls) around them for protection. Here are some pictures oflong houses like the ones Huron Indians used, and adrawing of what a longhouse looked like on the inside. Today, longhouses are only used for ceremonial purposes. Wyandot families live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Wyandot men worebreechcloths and leggings. In winter they would also wear deerskin tunics. Wyandot women wore wraparound skirts with poncho-style blouses or deerskin dresses with removable sleeves. The Wyandots woremoccasins on their feet. Here are some more photographs and links aboutIndian clothing in general.

The Wyandots didn't wearNative American warbonnet headdresses like theSioux. Wyandot chiefs sometimes wore a special feathered cap. Wyandot women usually wore their hair in one long braid. Some Wyandot men wore their hair long too, but others shaved their heads in theMohawk style. Some warriors even made this hairstyle more impressive by adding a brightly coloredporcupine roach. Wyandot men painted their faces and bodies and sometimes woreWhat was Wyandot food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Wyandot were farming people. Wyandot women harvested corn, beans, squash, and sunflowers. Wyandot men hunted deer, wild turkeys, and small game, and went fishing in the rivers. Wyandot recipes included cornbread, soups, and stews. Here is a website with more information abouttribal tattoos, but women didn't paint or tattoo themselves.

Today, Wyandot people wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths... and they only wear roaches in their hair on special occasions like a dance.

Yes--the Wyandot Indians used birchbark canoes to travel along the St. Lawrence River. Here is a website with pictures ofAmerican Indian canoes. Over land, the Wyandots used dogs as pack animals. There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe. Today, of course, Wyandot people also use cars... and non-native people also use canoes.

Native American Indian food.

Wyandot hunters used bows and arrows to shoot game. Wyandot fishermen used spears, fishing poles, and large nets. In war, Wyandot men fired arrows or fought with war clubs and spears. Here is a website of pictures and information aboutNative American weapons.

Traditional Wyandot art includedpottery,weaving, andbeadwork. Like other eastern tribes, the Wyandots 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 Wyandot tribe interact with?
The Wyandots were important traders who controlled many of the northern trade routes. Almost all of the eastern Algonquian tribes, such as theAbenaki, Mohican, andWhat about Wyandot religion?
Spirituality and religion were important parts of Wyandot, and some people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Wyandot people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more aboutWampanoag tribes, used the Wyandots as middlemen. They fought frequently with the powerfulIroquois Confederacy, especially theSeneca tribe. But when they weren't at war, the Wyandots traded with the Iroquois tribes too.
Can you recommend a good book for me to read?

There are lots of traditional Wyandot legends and fairy tales. Story-telling is very important to the Wyandot Indian culture. Here is a Wyandot legend about thecreation of the world. Here's a website where you can read more aboutWyandot mythology.

Wyandotte traditions or this site aboutNative American spirituality in general.

North American Indians Today: Huron is a good look at Wyandot life past and present. Older readers can learn more about Huron history inHuron: Indians of North America orThe Huron: Farmers of the North. You may also enjoy Wyandot Folklore, which is a nice collection of Huron-Wendat legends. Or you can browse through our reading list of recommendedAmerican Indian books in general. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

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 Wyandot Indian people and their language!

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Wyandot Indian Tribe
An overview of the Wyandot people, their language and history.

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

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

Wyandot Words
Wyandot Indian vocabulary lists.

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Facts for Kids: Wyandot Indians (Wyandots)

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Indigenous languages Native American tribes Native American arts Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people in search of Wyandot Indian information for school or home-schooling reports.

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Facts for Kids: Ojibwa Indians (Chippewas, Ojibways)

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Information about the Chippewa Indians (Ojibways) for students and teachers. Covers Ojibwa clothing, food, homes, weapons and tools, canoes, and the culture of the Ojibway tribe.

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Indigenous Languages Native American tribes American Indian art
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people in search of Abenaki information for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit our mainAbenaki language andculture pages for more in-depth information, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Abenaki pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages. Photographs are the property of the sources we have credited.

Abenaki Tribe

Two Abenaki women Abenaki dancers today

How do you pronounce "Abenaki?" What does it mean?
Abenaki is pronounced AH-buh-nah-kee. It means "people of the dawn," or "easterners." This name is also spelled "Abnaki," "Abanaki," or "Abenaqui." Abenaki Indians also call themselvesAlnombak, which means "the people."

Is there a difference between "Abenaki" and "Wabanaki"?
Yes. Both these words have the same root, which means "easterners." However, theWabanaki Confederacy was the name of an alliance that included not only the Abenakis, but also four neighboring tribes: thePenobscots, theMaliseets, thePassamaquoddies, and theMicmacs. Click here to learn more about theWabanaki Confederacy.

The Abenakis are original natives of the New England area which includesVermont,New Hampshire, andMaine. Here is amap showing the location of the Cowasuck, Sokoki, Missisquoi, and Norridgewock bands of Abenaki Indians.This map shows the Kennebec and other Eastern Abenaki homelands in Maine. After European colonists arrived, many Abenakis fled to Canada or moved in with neighboring tribes. Today, Abenaki people live on two reservations in Quebec and scattered around New England. Abenakis in the United States do not have a reservation.

How is the Abenaki tribe organized?
In Canada, the two Abenaki bands, Odanak and Wolinak, live onreserves (also known as reservations.) A reserve is land that belongs to the tribe and is under their control. Each Canadian Abenaki band has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country. However, the Abenakis are also Canadian citizens and must obey Canadian law. The leader or chief of each Abenaki band is calledsagama or sag8mo in their language.

The Abenaki tribe is notfederally recognized in the United States. That means Abenakis in the US don't have reservations or their own governments. The Abenaki of New England also have bands with chiefs, but they are unofficial.

What language do Abenaki Indians speak?
The Abenaki in New England speak English. Most Abenaki people in Quebec speak French. Some Abenaki elders in Canada still speak their nativeAbnaki-Penobscot language. It has this long name because two tribes, the Abenakis and the Penobscots, speak the same language with different accents--just like Americans and Canadians both speak English. The dialect spoken by the Abenaki Indians is also calledWestern Abenaki. Western Abenaki is a musical language with com plicated verbs. If you'd like to learn a few easy Abenaki words, "kwai kwai" (rhymes with "bye bye") is a friendly greeting and "woliwoni" (pronounced woh-lee-woh-nee) means "thank you." You can listen to an Abanaki elder talk in his languagehere and see an Abenaki picture glossaryhere.

Today Abnaki-Penobscot is anendangered language because most children aren't learning it anymore, but some Abenaki and Penobscot people are working to keep the language alive.

What was Abenaki culture like in the past? What is it like now?

Here's a story about an Abanaki child learning his family's traditions. Here are links to two Abenaki communities, the Cowasuck Abenaki Band in Massachusetts and the Missisquoi Abenaki Band in Vermont, where you can learn about Abenaki Indians today.

How do Abenaki Indian children live and what did they do in the past?

They do the same things all children do--play with each other, go to school, and help around the house. Many Abenaki children go hunting and fishing with their fathers, and some like to paddle canoes. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play, like early colonial children. But Abenakis did have cornhusk dolls, games, and toys to play with, and they practiced shooting child-sized bows and arrows. Teenage boys liked to play a stickball game similar to lacrosse. Abenaki babies, like many Native Americans, rode in baby carriers called cradleboards on their mothers' backs--a custom many American families have adopted now.

What were men and women's roles in the Abenaki tribe?
Abenaki men were hunters and sometimes went to war to protect their families. Abenaki women were farm ers and also did most of the child care and cooking. Both male and female Abenakis took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine. In the past, the chief was always a man, but today an Abenaki woman can be chief too.

The Abenakis didn't live in tepees. They lived in small birchbark buildings called wigwams or lodges, about the size of a modern camp tent. Some Abenaki families preferred to build larger Iroquois-style longhouses instead. Here are some pictures of wigwams, longhouses, and other Indian homes. An Abenaki village contained many wigwams or longhouses, a meeting hall, and a sweat lodge. Many villages also hadpalisades (high log walls) around them to guard against attack.

Today, Native Americans only build a wigwam for fun or to connect with their heritage, not as shelter. Most Abenakis live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Abenaki clothes

Beaded moccasins

Abenaki men wore breechcloths with leather leggings. Abenaki women wore wraparound deerskin skirts. Shirts were not necessary in Abenaki culture, but in cool weather both genders wore poncho-like blouses. The Abenakis also used moccasins, cloaks, beaded jewelry, and pointed hoods. Later the Abenakis adapted European costume such as cloth blouses and jackets, decorating them with fancy beadwork. Here are more pictures of Abenaki clothing styles, and some photographs and links about American Indian clothing in general.

The Abenakis didn't wear long warbonnets like the Sioux. Usually they wore a headband with a feather or two in it. Sometimes an Abenaki chief would wear a tall feathered headdress. They did not paint their faces. Abenaki women wore their hair loose or braided on top of their heads, and Abenaki men sometimes put their long hair in topknots. Here are some pictures of these Indian hairstyles.

Some Abenakis today have a traditional cloak 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--the Abenaki tribe was well-known for their birchbark canoes. Canoeing is still popular among Abenakis, though few people handcraft a canoe from birch bark anymore. Over land, the Abenakis used dogs as pack animals. (There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe.) The Abenakis used sleds and snowshoes to help them travel in the winter. They learned to make those tools from northern neighbors like the Cree Indians.

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

Abenaki fishing spear

What was Abenaki food like in the days before supermarkets?
They hunted deer and moose and fished in the rivers. Abenakis still cherish these activities today (though most hunters use guns now instead of arrows and spears.) Abenaki Indians also planted corn and beans in small farms, picked berries, and made maple syrup from tree sap. Here is an Abenaki soup recipe, and an article with more information about American Indian food.

What kinds of weapons and tools did the Abenakis use?
Abenaki fishermen used pronged spears like this one to catch fish, as well as nets. Abenaki hunters and warriors used bows and arrows, spears, and heavy wooden clubs. Here is a picture of an Abenaki club, and a website with pictures and more information about Native American weapons.

What is Abenaki music like?
The two most important Abenaki

Abenaki artists are best known for their quillwork, beadwork and black ash baskets. Here is a website of Abenaki basket photographs. Like other eastern American Indians, Abenakis 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 pictures and symbols on wampum belts often told a story or represented a person's family.

instrument are drums andflutes. Abenaki drums were usually large and several men would play them together at dances and other community events. Flutes were carved from wood are were most often used to play love songs. Here is anaudio recording of an Abenaki elder chanting a traditional honor song, and avideo of dancers and drummers at the Odanak pow wow.

What other Native Americans did the Abenaki tribe interact with?
The Abenaki traded regularly with all the other New England Indians, and they often fought with the powerfulIroquois. But their most important neighbors were thePenobscots,Passamaquoddies,Maliseets, andMicmacs. These five tribes formed an alliance called the Wabanaki Confederacy. Before this alliance, the Abenaki were not always friends with these tribes--in fact, they sometimes fought wars against each other. But once they joined the Confederacy, the W abanaki tribes never fought each other again. They are still allies today.

What kinds of stories do the Abenaki Indians tell?
There are many traditional Abenaki legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Abenaki Indian culture. Here's one legend aboutGluskonba (Glooscap), the culture hero of the Abenaki tribe.

What problems do the Abenaki Indians face today?
In the United States, the government does not officially recognize the Abenaki tribe. This upsets the Abenakis because they do not have hunting or fishing rights, they cannot sell arts and crafts under Indian craft laws, and other American Indians don't always recognize or cooperate with them. The Abenaki want to be recognized as a true Indian tribe, but because their ancestors often hid from the Americans or fled into Canada, they cannot prove that they lived in New England continuously since the 1600's. Here's anewspaper article about that.

What about Abenaki religion?
Spirituality and religion were important parts of Abenaki life, and some people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Abenaki people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more aboutAbenaki mythology or this site aboutNative American religion in general.

You may enjoyDog People by Abenaki writer Joseph Bruchac. In Abenaki culture, dogs were considered an important part of the family. You can learn a lot about the Abenaki world while reading these stories about Indian children and their dogs. Another good Bruchac book about Abenaki history, suitable for a young teen, isThe Winter People. It's an adventure story about an Abenaki teenager who survives the Rogers' Rangers massacre and tries to rescue his captured mother. If you like graphic novels,Dawn Land is an interesting one based on ancient Abenaki legends. If you're more interested in contemporary Abenaki life,Muskrat Will Be Swimming is a wonderful novel about an Abenaki girl learning to be proud of her heritage. Younger children may likeRaccoon's Last Race, a lively picture book telling a traditional Abenaki story. For non-fiction books about Abenaki culture and history, two good sources are the history bookVoice of the Dawn and the biographyAunt Sarah: Woman of the Dawnland. You can also browse through our reading list ofNative American book recommendations in general. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

How do I cite your website in my bibliography?
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 organization here. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2020.

Thank you for your interest in the Abenaki Indians and their language!

Abenaki Indian Tribe
An overview of the Abnaki Indians, their language and history.
Abenaki Language Resources
Abnaki language samples, articles, and indexed links.
Abenaki Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Abnaki Indians past and present.
Abenaki Words

Definition s of Abenaki Indian vocabulary.

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Facts for Kids: Abenaki Indians (Abanaki, Abnaki, Abenaqui, Abenakis, Alnombak)

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Information about the Abenakis for students and teachers. Covers Abenaki Indian clothing, houses, language, weapons, history and culture.