Writing - Social Studies

One of the biggest Native American tribes is the Cherokee. Another tribe, not as well known, is the Wampanoag. Within these tribes, there are sub-tribes. These tribes live in different villages, and are from different parts of the country. The cultures differed within the tribes, but most tribes depended on hunting and fishing to gather their daily food.

The Cherokee came from the southern Appalachian Mountains. In present day 2004, they are now mostly concentrated in eastern Oklahoma. The eastern Cherokee still maintain their reservation in western North Carolina. In 1540, European epidemics introduced into the Southeastern United States by the Desoto expedition are estimated to have killed at least 75% of the original native population. In 1674, the Cherokee population was about 50,000. Cherokee comes from a Creek word, "Chelokee" meaning, "people of a different speech." The language they spoke was called Iroquian, but Cherokee differs significantly from other Iroquian languages. The Cherokee were a settled agricultural people living in 200 fairly large villages. They relied heavily on the "three sisters" (corn, beans, and squash.) In 1768, the British were forced to negotiate new boundaries with the Cherokee.

The Wampanoag tribe was from Southeastern Massachusetts between the eastern shore of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. In 1600 the Wampanoag had about as many as 12,000 people with 40 villages divided. Between 8,000 on the mainland and another 4,000 on the offshore islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. The Wampanoag were people who supplemented their agriculture with hunting and fishing. During the summer, villages were concentrated near the coast. In the winter, the Wampanoag moved inland and separated into winter hunting camps of extended families. Wampanoag means "eastern people." And the language they spoke was Algonquin. In the present day, the Wampanoag community on Martha's Vineyard has persisted. Without benefit of a treaty with the U.S., only the Wampanoag at Gay Head have been able to gain federal recognition.

The Cherokee are obviously known as being called Cherokee. But there are over 30 other names they've used or call them self by. Where as, the Wampanoag have only two other names they go by. The Wampanoag, (compared to others) isn't a very large tribe. Within the tribe they have many sub-tribes. The Cherokee sub-tribes are depending on location and dialect (east to west.)

Doing this paper on the Cherokee and Wampanoag tribes, I've learned a lot of interesting facts. Before I didn't know that tribes were divided into sub-tribes. I also didn't know how many states they were from. What I wish to find out is which members of my family were in tribes. This project was a good experience because I got a chance to learn information on my background.



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