Indian Lore Merit Badge

1. Indian Lore Merit Badge Vince_Cronin@baylor.edu

2. The Indian Lore merit badge pamplet is HIGHLY recommended. It contains a lot of very good, interesting material that we will not cover in this course. At just under $5.00 at the Waco Scout Shop, it’s a great deal.

3. Requirements

4. 1. Give the history of one American Indian tribe, group, or nation that lives or has lived near you... Tell about traditional dwellings, way of life, tribal government, religious beliefs, family and clan relationships, language, clothing styles, arts and crafts, food preparation, means of getting around, games, customs in warfare, where members of the group now live, and how they live.

5. 2. Do TWO of the following. Focus on a specific group or tribe. a. Make an article of clothing worn by members of the tribe b. Make and decorate three items used by the tribe, as approved by your counselor. c. Make an authentic model of a dwelling used by an Indian tribe, group, or nation. d. Visit a museum to see Indian artifacts. Discuss them with your counselor. Identify at least 10 artifacts by tribe or nation, their shape, size, and use.

6. 3. Do ONE of the following: a. Learn three games played by a group or tribe. Teach and lead one game with a Scout group. b. Learn and show how a tribe traditionally cooked or prepared food. Make three food items. c. Give a demonstration showing how a specific Indian group traditionally hunted, fished, or trapped.

7. 4. Do ONE of the following: a. Write or briefly describe how life might have been different for the European settlers if there had been no native Americans to meet when they came to this continent. b. -- c. -- d. -- e. Learn in English an Indian story of at least 250 words. Tell the story at a Scout meeting. f. -- g. -- h. -- i. --

8. Current best evidence is that humans reached North America around 14,000 years ago, migrating from Siberia. Native American History in Central Texas

9. Current best evidence is that humans reached North America around 14,000 years ago, migrating from Siberia. Essentially all native Americans in North, South and Central America are related to small groups of early immigrants from Asia. Native American History in Central Texas

10. Dating human migration using mtDNA and Y chromosomes https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic

11. Humans reached the Texas area approximately 12,000 years ago. Archaeologists call the people who lived in North America before 8,500 years ago Paleoindians. Native American History in Central Texas

12. Paleoindians left Clovis points and later Folsom points made of volcanic glass (obsidian) or flint. Native American History in Central Texas

13. Paleoindians left Clovis points and later Folsom points made of volcanic glass (obsidian) or flint. Their stone tools included spear tips, knives, tips for the end of atlatl darts, scrapers, and metates for grinding acorns or other seeds. Native American History in Central Texas

14. Clovis points

15. Paleoindians lived during the last major episode in the Ice Age, when glaciers covered much of Canada and our northern states, as well as many mountain ranges. Native American History in Central Texas

16. Paleoindians lived during the last major episode in the Ice Age, when glaciers covered much of Canada and our northern states, as well as many mountain ranges. They hunted primitive elephants (mastodons, mammoths), bison, elk, and a variety of other animals, some of which are now extinct. Native American History in Central Texas

17. Fiberglass model of an imperial mammoth, La Brea tar pits

18. Imperial mammoth, George C. Page Museum

19. During the Archaic Period (8500 BP to 2500 BP), Native Americans were hunters and gatherers. Native American History in Central Texas

20. During the Archaic Period (8500 BP to 2500 BP), Native Americans were hunters and gatherers. Elephants and some other large Ice-Age mammals were extinct in North America, but bison were an important source of food and materials, and they were hunted with the atlatl. Native American History in Central Texas

21. Atlatl

23. Much of our information about Native Americans of the Prehistoric Period (2500-400 BP) comes from excavations in rock shelters and caves. Native American History in Central Texas

24. The atlatl was gradually replaced with the bow and arrow, with animal sinew used for the arrow string. Native American History in Central Texas

25. The atlatl was gradually replaced with the bow and arrow, with animal sinew used for the arrow string. In addition to hunting and gathering, farming developed. Native American History in Central Texas

26. The atlatl was gradually replaced with the bow and arrow, with animal sinew used for the arrow string. In addition to hunting and gathering, farming developed. Pottery came into use (~2500 BP), allowing food to be boiled. Baskets were used to store food. Native American History in Central Texas

27. Caddo and Wichita pottery

28. Corn (maize) was cultivated in the southwest from ~100 AD. Other crops/foods included various beans, melons, squash, pumpkins, peaches, plums, sunflower, tobacco, acorns, seeds, berries, nuts, persimmons, goosefoot and sumpweed. Native American History in Central Texas

29. Before contact with Europeans in 1492, it is estimated that there were between 28 and 120 million humans living in North, Central and South America. Native American History in Central Texas

30. Current estimates indicate that as much as 95% of the native population of the Americas died within 200 years of initial European contact, due largely to disease. Native American History in Central Texas

31. Genetic markers indicate that native Americans (including North, Central and South America) are all very closely related, and display very little genetic diversity. Native American History in Central Texas

32. Genetic markers indicate that native Americans (including North, Central and South America) are all very closely related, and display very little genetic diversity. That is why they were so endangered by diseases brought by people from Europe and Africa. Native American History in Central Texas

33. The primary diseases that decimated Native Americans were smallpox, measles, whooping cough and cholera. Native American History in Central Texas

34. The size of the Wichita tribe has declined dramatically since first contact with Europeans in 1541. 1780: 3,200 1937: 385 Waco band in 1824: ~480-575 ... in 1859: 171 ... in 1910: 5 Native American History in Central Texas

35. The Waco Indians were closely related to the Tawakoni. Both are subgroups (bands) of the Wichita Tribe, which in turn is part of the Caddoan Confederation (along with the Pawnee and the Caddo). Native American History in Central Texas

36. Wee-Ta-Ra-Sha-Ro, Head Chief of the Wichita. The round plate hanging from his neck is called a gorget. Painted by George Catlin in 1834. www.texasindians.com/wichita.html

37. The Wichitas were among the few Plains Indians that used tatoos. They sometimes referred to themselves as “the raccoon people” because of their tatoos around their eyes. Native American History in Central Texas

38. The Wichitas moved into Texas after the first Europeans arrived in the 1500s. The Wacos established their village Quiscat near present-day Waco in the early 1770s. Native American History in Central Texas

40. There are several stories about the origin of the name “Waco.” Native American History in Central Texas

41. There are several stories about the origin of the name “Waco.” It is commonly said to be from Hueco, Huaco, Wacoah, or Quchaco. Native American History in Central Texas

42. There are several stories about the origin of the name “Waco.” It is commonly said to be from Hueco, Huaco, Wacoah, or Quchaco. Another idea is that is from Wehiko, a corruption of Mexico, and given because the tribe was always fighting with Mexicans. Native American History in Central Texas

43. 1770s: Wacos establish two villages near Waco, with ~500 people Native American History in Central Texas

44. 1824: Wacos sign a treaty with Stephen F. Austin, who left behind a description of their village. Native American History in Central Texas

45. According the Stephen F. Austin, in 1824 the main Waco village had ~33 grass houses and occupied ~40 acres. They cultivated ~200 acres of corn and other crops. Another nearby village had 15 grass houses. Native American History in Central Texas

46. By 1830, the Waco village had ~60 grass houses, and ~400 acres under cultivation. They grew beans, squash, corn, melons and watermelon, and managed a peach orchard. In the winter, the village was vacated and the tribe left to hunt buffalo. They lived in tee-pees during hunts. Native American History in Central Texas

47. 1830: Wacos driven out of their village by Cherokees Native American History in Central Texas

48. 1837: A major smallpox epidemic decimates the Wichita and Waco Native American History in Central Texas

49. 1859: Wacos removed from Texas and sent to a reservation in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) Native American History in Central Texas

50. 1907: Oklahoma becomes a state, and Wichita Indians located to a reservation at Fort Cobb near Anadarko, Oklahoma. By 1910, only 5 Waco remain. Native American History in Central Texas