The Calusa (kah LOOS ah) lived on the sandy shores of the southwest coast of Florida. These Indians controlled most of south Florida. The population of this tribe may have reached as many as 50,000 people. The Calusa men were tall and well built with long hair. Calusa means "fierce people," and they were described as a fierce, war-like people. Many smaller tribes were constantly watching for these marauding warriors. The first Spanish explorers found that these Indians were not very friendly. The explorers soon became the targets of the Calusa attacks. This tribe was the first one that the Spanish explorers wrote home about in 1513.
The Calusa lived on the coast and along the inner waterways. They built their homes on stilts and wove Palmetto leaves to fashion roofs, but they didn't construct any walls.
The Calusa Indians did not farm like the other Indian tribes in Florida. Instead, they fished for food on the coast, bays, rivers, and waterways. The men and boys of the tribe made nets from palm tree webbing to catch mullet, pinfish, pigfish, and catfish. They used spears to catch eels and turtles. They made fish bone arrowheads to hunt for animals such as deer. The women and children learned to catch shellfish like conchs, crabs, clams, lobsters, and oysters.
The Calusa are considered to be the first "shell collectors." Shells were discarded into huge heaps. Unlike other Indian tribes, the Calusa did not make many pottery items. They used the shells for tools, utensils, jewelry, and ornaments for their shrines. Shell spears were made for fishing and hunting.
Shell mounds can still be found today in many parts of southern Florida. Environmentalists and conservation groups protect many of these remaining shell mounds. One shell mound site is Mound Key at Estero Bay in Lee County. Its construction is made entirely of shells and clay. This site is believed to be the chief town of the Calusa, where the leader of the tribe, Chief Carlos lived.
Archaeologists have excavated many of these mounds to learn more about these extinct people. Artifacts such as shell tools, weapons, and ornaments are on display in many Florida history museums.
Living and surviving on the coast caused the tribesmen to become great sailors. They defended their land against other smaller tribes and European explorers that were traveling by water. The Calooshahatchee River, which means "River of the Calusa," was their main waterway.
They traveled by dugout canoes, which were made from hollowed-out cypress logs approximately 15 feet long. They used these canoes to travel as far as Cuba. Explorers reported that the Calusa attacked their ships that were anchored close to shore. The Calusa were also known to sail up and down the west coast salvaging the wealth from shipwrecks.
What happened to these fierce sailing Indians? The Calusa tribe died out in the late 1700s. Enemy Indian tribes from Georgia and South Carolina began raiding the Calusa territory. Many Calusa were captured and sold as slaves.
In addition, diseases such as smallpox and measles were brought into the area from the Spanish and French explorers and these diseases wiped out entire villages. It is believed that the few remaining Calusa Indians left for Cuba when the Spanish turned Florida over to the British in 1763.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Quotes
"How smooth must be the language of the whites, when they can make right look like wrong, and wrong like right." -
Black Hawk - Sauk
Black Hawk - Sauk
Seventh generation of Shawnee tribe returns to Pickaway
By: Waylon Strickland
The Eastern Shawnee Tribe has returned to Ohio for the first time since it was expelled from the state in 1832.
Over 100 members of the tribe flocked to Pickaway County yesterday to begin a four-day historical and cultural trip to see their homelands of central and southern Ohio.
"This is the first time in Ohio for many of our members. We are mindful of what our famous leader Tecumseh said: the seventh generation will bring my people back. We are the seventh generation," said Chief Glenna J. Wallace.
Members of the tribe consider the county and Scioto River Valley to be their homeland and recognize many sacred sites in the area.
"I think it's gorgeous. When you see the sites and knowing the history, it brings chills to you," said Shawna Pickup of Aucha, Oklahoma.
The tribe, now based in Oklahoma, toured a number historic sites across the county, including Black Mountain, Logan Elm monument, Kipoko, Camp Charlotte monument, led by local historian Wally Higgins and Terry Frazier, director, Pickaway County Office of Development and Planning.
"We are moved and humbled by the welcome we've received here, it's very beautiful country. This is our homeland and we are greatly to the care given to the land and deeply appreciative of the monuments in place," said Wallace.
Read more here: http://www.nativebiz.com/community/News,op=visit,nid=15930.html
The Eastern Shawnee Tribe has returned to Ohio for the first time since it was expelled from the state in 1832.
Over 100 members of the tribe flocked to Pickaway County yesterday to begin a four-day historical and cultural trip to see their homelands of central and southern Ohio.
"This is the first time in Ohio for many of our members. We are mindful of what our famous leader Tecumseh said: the seventh generation will bring my people back. We are the seventh generation," said Chief Glenna J. Wallace.
Members of the tribe consider the county and Scioto River Valley to be their homeland and recognize many sacred sites in the area.
"I think it's gorgeous. When you see the sites and knowing the history, it brings chills to you," said Shawna Pickup of Aucha, Oklahoma.
The tribe, now based in Oklahoma, toured a number historic sites across the county, including Black Mountain, Logan Elm monument, Kipoko, Camp Charlotte monument, led by local historian Wally Higgins and Terry Frazier, director, Pickaway County Office of Development and Planning.
"We are moved and humbled by the welcome we've received here, it's very beautiful country. This is our homeland and we are greatly to the care given to the land and deeply appreciative of the monuments in place," said Wallace.
Read more here: http://www.nativebiz.com/community/News,op=visit,nid=15930.html
More than 2,000 to compete in Piestewa games
By: Angelique Soenarie
FORT MCDOWELL - This summer, the 2007 Lori Piestewa National Native American Games might have even more participants than last year's games.
More than 2,000 participants are expected to compete in basketball, softball, track and field, cross country, volley ball and weighlifting, Thursday through Sunday.
Last summer, 1,788 participants from 16 states and Canada, ages 6 to 78, represented 56 tribes in the sporting event dedicated to Lori Piestewa, a Hopi from northern Arizona's Tuba City and the first Native American woman killed during combat in Iraq.
"It's the largest event in this country, and the only event of it kind in this country," said Erik Widmark, executive director of the Fullton Homes Grand Canyon State Games, which started what would become the Piestewa games six years ago.
"It's an important opportunity in honor of Lori. (And) not only Lori, but all fallen soldiers," Widmark said.
The games are open to all tribes. To compete, participants need to be at least one-fourth Native American.
Check it out here: http://www.nativebiz.com/community/News,op=visit,nid=15932.html
FORT MCDOWELL - This summer, the 2007 Lori Piestewa National Native American Games might have even more participants than last year's games.
More than 2,000 participants are expected to compete in basketball, softball, track and field, cross country, volley ball and weighlifting, Thursday through Sunday.
Last summer, 1,788 participants from 16 states and Canada, ages 6 to 78, represented 56 tribes in the sporting event dedicated to Lori Piestewa, a Hopi from northern Arizona's Tuba City and the first Native American woman killed during combat in Iraq.
"It's the largest event in this country, and the only event of it kind in this country," said Erik Widmark, executive director of the Fullton Homes Grand Canyon State Games, which started what would become the Piestewa games six years ago.
"It's an important opportunity in honor of Lori. (And) not only Lori, but all fallen soldiers," Widmark said.
The games are open to all tribes. To compete, participants need to be at least one-fourth Native American.
Check it out here: http://www.nativebiz.com/community/News,op=visit,nid=15932.html
BIA official visits with Navajo leaders
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) - Needs across Indian Country include jails, schools, infrastructure and water - on the Navajo Nation, those needs surface on a much larger scale than elsewhere, a U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs official said Monday.
‘‘These are the needs we need to address,'' Carl Artman, assistant secretary for the BIA told council delegates on the first day of their summer session. ‘‘We want to work with you on a resolution to these issues.''
Among the more pressing needs is education, Artman said. The BIA operates 184 elementary and secondary schools on tribal lands; 66 of those are on the Navajo Nation - seven of which have met annual yearly progress.‘‘We're not failing ourselves,'' Artman said. ‘‘We're failing our students.''
The Navajo Nation has been working on its own set of educational standards that would incorporate culture and tradition. Delegate Ervin Keeswood called on Artman to support the tribe's plans.
Want the whole story? Click here: http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2007/07/17/news/state/state1.txt
‘‘These are the needs we need to address,'' Carl Artman, assistant secretary for the BIA told council delegates on the first day of their summer session. ‘‘We want to work with you on a resolution to these issues.''
Among the more pressing needs is education, Artman said. The BIA operates 184 elementary and secondary schools on tribal lands; 66 of those are on the Navajo Nation - seven of which have met annual yearly progress.‘‘We're not failing ourselves,'' Artman said. ‘‘We're failing our students.''
The Navajo Nation has been working on its own set of educational standards that would incorporate culture and tradition. Delegate Ervin Keeswood called on Artman to support the tribe's plans.
Want the whole story? Click here: http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2007/07/17/news/state/state1.txt
Trail of Tears in north central Arkansas may be recognized
By: John Anderson
The Trail of Tears, a forced march of American Indians from the homes they had known in eastern states to Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma, in the early 1800s, is well recorded by historians.
Designation of the Trail of Tears as a National Historic Trail, which was signed into law by former President Ronald Reagan in 1987, led to Americans being educated about the deadly toll of U.S. policies toward American Indians in the days of westward expansion.
But the tale of a journey of about 1,200 American Indians, who took a route on the Trail of Tears crossing the Twin Lakes Area before either lake existed, largely has gone untold.
The Benge route they took in 1838-1839, from northeastern Alabama, through Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and Arkansas and to Indian Territory, soon may be designated as part of the Trail of Tears.
Along with the Bell Route that crossed central Arkansas, the designation of the Benge route would add the missing chapters in the saga of the American Indians who were forced to leave their homes.
"We could fully tell the tale of the Cherokee relocation for the first time," said Mark Christ, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
There's more here: http://www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070717/NEWS01/707170309/1002
The Trail of Tears, a forced march of American Indians from the homes they had known in eastern states to Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma, in the early 1800s, is well recorded by historians.
Designation of the Trail of Tears as a National Historic Trail, which was signed into law by former President Ronald Reagan in 1987, led to Americans being educated about the deadly toll of U.S. policies toward American Indians in the days of westward expansion.
But the tale of a journey of about 1,200 American Indians, who took a route on the Trail of Tears crossing the Twin Lakes Area before either lake existed, largely has gone untold.
The Benge route they took in 1838-1839, from northeastern Alabama, through Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and Arkansas and to Indian Territory, soon may be designated as part of the Trail of Tears.
Along with the Bell Route that crossed central Arkansas, the designation of the Benge route would add the missing chapters in the saga of the American Indians who were forced to leave their homes.
"We could fully tell the tale of the Cherokee relocation for the first time," said Mark Christ, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
There's more here: http://www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070717/NEWS01/707170309/1002
Leadership finds balance: Women take charge of tribes
By: S.E. Ruckman
Five American Indian tribes in Oklahoma have women as leaders.
WYANDOTTE -- Before becoming the Eastern Shawnee chief, Glenna Wallace served years as the tribe's secretary, eventually replacing her brother who was chief.
Now in public meetings, Wallace is often asked how she should be addressed, although she answers her phone with a lilting, "This is Chief Glenna."
"People want to know, 'What do we call you?' " she said. "Like chief is a man's word."
In a state with 37 federally recognized tribes, five -- or nearly 14 percent -- are led by women.
The Sac & Fox Nation has Chief Kay Rhoads; the Eastern Shawnee recently picked Wallace as chief; Bernadette Huber is ending a two-year term as Iowa Tribe chairwoman; LaRue Parker is the Caddo tribal chairwoman; and the Absentee Shawnee recently inaugurated Jennifer Onzahwah as governor.
Find out more here: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070717_238_A1_hFive65578
Five American Indian tribes in Oklahoma have women as leaders.
WYANDOTTE -- Before becoming the Eastern Shawnee chief, Glenna Wallace served years as the tribe's secretary, eventually replacing her brother who was chief.
Now in public meetings, Wallace is often asked how she should be addressed, although she answers her phone with a lilting, "This is Chief Glenna."
"People want to know, 'What do we call you?' " she said. "Like chief is a man's word."
In a state with 37 federally recognized tribes, five -- or nearly 14 percent -- are led by women.
The Sac & Fox Nation has Chief Kay Rhoads; the Eastern Shawnee recently picked Wallace as chief; Bernadette Huber is ending a two-year term as Iowa Tribe chairwoman; LaRue Parker is the Caddo tribal chairwoman; and the Absentee Shawnee recently inaugurated Jennifer Onzahwah as governor.
Find out more here: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070717_238_A1_hFive65578
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