Natchez Indian Tribe

Natchez Indian Tribe

Many thousand years ago, different tribes of people discovered the USA. One of these groups was the Natchez Indian tribe. Even after migrating into the United States, the Natchez tribe did not abandon their cultures, such as religion and ritual beliefs. According to archaeological studies, the founding fathers of the Natchez tribe previously occupied the southwest part of the prehistoric Mexican Empire before they settled in the present-day Mississippi as early as A.D 700.  The people spoke in Natchez, the original language of individuals, remotely associated with the Muskogean words.

The way of life of the Natchez included the cladding of intricate feather blankets during essential occasions such as rites of passage. The religion of the people was centered on a temple, just like in Mexico. The community had different social classes such as the Suns, the Honored Men and Women, the Nobles, and the lower class (Albrecht, 1946). The people worshipped the Sun, the majority of whom were chiefs. Civil matters in the community were taken care of by the Sun.

The community of Natchez was organized around an open plaza. The structures built by the people had no openings except the door that faced towards the east. Having adopted the Mississippian culture, the people painted signs on top of the Natchez Sun sanctuary. The people used the temple to conduct essential activities in the village, such as funeral services and human sacrifices (Barnett, 2007). Individuals supposed that serpents dominated the underworld while the upper world was dominated by individuals of the earth under the authority of influential spirits.

There exist essential facts about the way of life of the Natchez people. The diet that individuals consumed was based on the crops that the people planted, such as beans and corn. The people also took part in hunting wild animals and fishing. The food was cooked and tobacco. Besides, the people got saline from the northwest part of their homeland.

The people used armaments such as war clubs, maces knives, and shields. The clothing of the people also varied from men to women. Males were restricted to breechcloths that were made from deerskin (Barnett, 2007). For the females, they dressed in a knee-length skirt that was made from bark material. As for the youngsters, they stayed without clothes until the age of about ten years. Both genders decorated their faces during essential ceremonies in the community and also drew tattoos.

Another essential fact about the Natchez tribe is that their encounter with the Europeans played a significant role in changing their way of life, especially their dressing code. They started using strips of cloth such as wool and silk, which was readily available (Hudson, 1976). They also started to use an outer garment by the name match coat, which was typically a blanket which was fastened around an individual’s body and especially around the waist (Albrecht, 1946). In certain occurrences, the matching jacket was hung around an individual’s shoulders and especially during the warm seasons, and arranged to cover the head during the cold seasons.

The Natchez way of life has given me an understanding of how interaction plays a significant role in changing people’s way of life. For instance, the interaction of the Natchez tribe with the Europeans, like the French, made them change their way of dressing (Hudson, 1976). Besides, they became multilingual as a result of interacting with different people from different parts of the continent.

In conclusion, the Natchez community is one of the Native American tribes. The community occupies the Modern Mississippi region. Their interaction with European communities, like the French, played an essential role in changing their way of life, especially in terms of dressing.

References

Albrecht, A. C. (1946). Indian-French Relations at Natchez. American Anthropologist, 48(3), 321-354.

Barnett, J. F. (2007). The Natchez Indians: A History to 1735. Univ. Press of Mississippi.

Hudson, C. M. (1976). The Southeastern Indians (p. 185). Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER

Natchez Indian Tribe

Week 3: The First Americans Paper

What is this assignment?
From one of the sources below, select a federally or state recognized Native American tribe that maintains a website (these will be hot
linked in the list of tribal names).
 Federally recognized tribes
o Alphabetical: https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Links/federally-recognized-tribes-a-z.html
o By State: https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Links/federally-recognized-tribes-by-state.html
 State recognized tribes (by state): https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Links/state-recognized-tribes-in-usa-by-state.html

(Some tribal websites will feature far more pertinent and useful information than others. You may have to try more than one to find
information worth sharing.)

Using the information provided by the tribe itself and at least two to three other reliable sources, write a 2 to 3-page paper using APA
style present some basic information about the tribe, including the tribe’s name, their language, history of interaction with the United
States or state governments (including if and from where they were relocated), and at least four to five interesting facts related to the
way that the tribe represents itself. For example, are any civil rights/social justice goals presented that relate to content in the
textbook? Finally, include a reflection on how this assignment increased your knowledge, awareness, and/or understanding of Native
American experiences.