Pawnee IndiansPawnee Indians

Where Did the Pawnee Where Did the Pawnee Live?Live?

They lived in the They lived in the Plains Plains RegionRegion

The Great Plains lie in the The Great Plains lie in the center of North America. center of North America. The Plains stretch from the The Plains stretch from the Mississippi River to the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from Rocky Mountains and from Texas into CanadaTexas into Canada

Eastern Plains and Western Eastern Plains and Western PlainsPlains

Eastern PlainsEastern Plains Lots of rain that would cause the grass to grow Lots of rain that would cause the grass to grow

EIGHT FEET HIGH!EIGHT FEET HIGH! Rain allowed Americans Indians, such as the Rain allowed Americans Indians, such as the

Pawnee, to farm successfullyPawnee, to farm successfully They settled their villages near rivers and built earth They settled their villages near rivers and built earth

lodges to live in.lodges to live in. The lodges house were built out of bark, earth and The lodges house were built out of bark, earth and

grassgrass They also protected people from cold story weatherThey also protected people from cold story weather In the spring and fall, the Pawnee farmed and in the In the spring and fall, the Pawnee farmed and in the

summer and winter, they left their villages and summer and winter, they left their villages and hunted buffalohunted buffalo

Earth LodgeEarth Lodge

Western PlainsWestern Plains

The dry lands on the western plains made farming The dry lands on the western plains made farming difficultdifficult

But this area had one very important resource- But this area had one very important resource- BUFFALOBUFFALO

Ate Buffalo meatAte Buffalo meat Carved bones from the buffalo to make tools and Carved bones from the buffalo to make tools and

wove hair into ropewove hair into rope Even used the tail as a fly swatter!Even used the tail as a fly swatter! Used buffalo skin to make teepeesUsed buffalo skin to make teepees Western Plains Indians were Western Plains Indians were NOMADSNOMADS (people who (people who

moved around from place to place)moved around from place to place)

What did they eat?What did they eat? Pawnee women raised crops like corn, Pawnee women raised crops like corn,

beans, squash and sunflowersbeans, squash and sunflowers Pawnee men would hunt buffalo and antelopePawnee men would hunt buffalo and antelope Pawnee hunters would drive the buffalo to Pawnee hunters would drive the buffalo to

marshy land where it was easier to shoot marshy land where it was easier to shoot them, but once the acquired horses, they them, but once the acquired horses, they began to hunt buffalo on horsebackbegan to hunt buffalo on horseback

Looking at the region in which the Pawnee Looking at the region in which the Pawnee lived, do you think they ate fish?lived, do you think they ate fish?

What did the Pawnee What did the Pawnee Wear?Wear?

Pawnee women wore deerskin skirts and poncho-Pawnee women wore deerskin skirts and poncho-like blouses like blouses

Pawnee men wore Pawnee men wore breechcloths and leather leggings. . Men did not usually wear shirts, but warriors Men did not usually wear shirts, but warriors sometimes wore special buckskin war shirts. sometimes wore special buckskin war shirts.

The Pawnees wore moccasins on their feet, and in The Pawnees wore moccasins on their feet, and in cold weather, they wore long buffalo-hide robes cold weather, they wore long buffalo-hide robes

Pawnee men shaved their heads except for a Pawnee men shaved their heads except for a scalplockscalplock (one long lock of hair in back) and wore a (one long lock of hair in back) and wore a porcupine roach on top. Pawnee women wore their porcupine roach on top. Pawnee women wore their hair either loose or braided. The Pawnees also hair either loose or braided. The Pawnees also painted their faces for special occasions. They used painted their faces for special occasions. They used different patterns for war paint, religious different patterns for war paint, religious ceremonies, and festive decoration ceremonies, and festive decoration

Porcupine Hair RoachPorcupine Hair Roach

What were the women and What were the women and men’s roles in the Pawnee men’s roles in the Pawnee

Tribe?Tribe? Pawnee men were hunters and sometimes Pawnee men were hunters and sometimes

went to war to protect their families. Pawnee went to war to protect their families. Pawnee women were farmers and also did most of the women were farmers and also did most of the child care and cooking. Only men became child care and cooking. Only men became Pawnee chiefs, but both genders took part in Pawnee chiefs, but both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine. medicine.

How did the Pawnee How did the Pawnee travel?travel?

When they traveled over land, the When they traveled over land, the Pawnees used dogs pulling Pawnees used dogs pulling travoistravois (a (a kind of drag sled) to help them carry their kind of drag sled) to help them carry their belongings. There were no horses in belongings. There were no horses in North America until colonists brought North America until colonists brought them over from Europe. them over from Europe.

What were the Pawnee’s What were the Pawnee’s arts and crafts like?arts and crafts like?

Pawnee artists are famous for their Pawnee artists are famous for their pottery, woven baskets, and hide pottery, woven baskets, and hide paintings. paintings.

Pawnee Indians told lots of legends and Pawnee Indians told lots of legends and fairy tales. Story telling is very important fairy tales. Story telling is very important to the Pawnee Indians culture.to the Pawnee Indians culture.

BibliographyBibliography

Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis; Native Languages of theAmericas, http://www.bigorrin.org/pawnee_kids.htm, 2009.