The Indians of South East America and Their Traditions - Essay Example

South East Indians: Introduction: South Eastern Indian people are Native American Indians who occupy the South Eastern part of United States of America. The cultural practices and traditions of these Indian people were similar to that of Indians from the neighboring regions. On this basis, the southern and the eastern part of this region is called the gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic ocean. To the west of the South Eastern America, the cultures of the plain Indians, and those of their South Western neighbors merge (Owings, 13). However, the cultural values and traditions of North Eastern Indians are always influenced by the cultural values of the South East Indians. On this basis therefore, a common term is used to refer to this inter-relation of culture and traditions that is the Eastern Woodlands. South East America has a coastal low belt, with a sub-tropical zone, mostly found in Southern Florida. Its ecological zone is composed of a sandy soil, a scrub forest, and savanna grassland. It has hills, Apachalian Mountains, a river system, with forests of hickory and oak (Owings, 52). On this background, this paper analyzes the pre-contact traditions and cultural values of the South East Indians, and changes after contact with the colonialists, and colonialism in the region. Pre-Contact ways of Life: Evidence on the cultural values and ethics of the Indian tribes of South Eastern America is found mostly on their oral history, ethnography, historical documents, and folklores. For instance, some of their traditions involved the use of ceremonial mounds, consumption and use of corn, and emphasis on social stratification. This was mostly depicted amongst Indians who aligned themselves with the Mississippian culture (Owings, 32). These tribes also developed products of art such as seats, and drawings, and Cahokia was their main cultural center. Language was also a symbol of their cultural values, and language families such as the Caddoan, Iroquoian, Muskogean, and Siouan existing. The Muskogean was the largest linguistic group, and had various sub-tribes such as the Creek, Choctaw, and the Apalachee. Members of the Siouan language included the tribes of the Biloxis, Tutelos, and the Catwbas (Owings, 27). It is significant to denote that these tribes spoke different languages, but were categorized in the mentioned linguistic groups, because of the dialect they spoke (Owings, 17). In this region, there was a common language which was used for purposes of transacting business. This language was called Mobilian and within it, there were numerous components of the Choctaw language. On this basis therefore, when it came to trading with different tribes of the region, the Indians of South East America used the Mobilian language. In terms of food substance, the people hunted animal for meat, and collected wild plants to use as vegetables and fruits. This was made possible because of the abundance of arable land, and mountainous forests. There was also an efficient and effective division of labor. Women were responsible for taking care of children, cooking, cultivating the fields, and gathering wild fruits and plants. They also had the task of making baskets, clothes, and engaging in pottery. Men on the other hand were hunters, waged war, and engaged in trade. They had the responsibility of building houses, clearing the fields for planting, and providing assistance in harvest. These people grew corn, and it was an important economic and food product. In preparing this food crop, these Indians could either bake, or roast the corn. Apart from corn, these people grew beans, and it was an important dietary supplement to corn. They were planted adjacent to the corn plant. Their tools of farming were mattocks and hoes. They also grew and cultivated sunflower for its oil, and tobacco. Other important cultural plants were potatoes, berries, and nuts. Despite these varieties of food products, corn was the most important of them all. This is because it was highly nutritious, and required little labor to produce it. This people kept dogs, and it was the only animal they domesticated. These animals were used for hunting, and warning the community on the existence of strangers within the land. These Indians interfered with their natural landscape by girdling trees. This favored the growth of certain wild fruits, and plants. These plants were the food substances of wild game such as deer, rabbits, and wild turkey, which were the main sources of meat for the Indian tribes of this region. In relation to trade, the South Eastern Indians traded with the plains people, and Indians from North Eastern region of America, and the items of trade were luxurious items, and subsistence products. For instance salt was an important item of trade, since there was unequal distribution of this important item amongst the South Eastern tribes of Indians, and their trading counterparts from the plains, and North East. Other items of trade were fur, soapstone, pottery, and flints. In regard to their settlement values, these people settled in local villages, with a population of over one thousand people (Owings, 34). According to their cultural values, a village had to have more than five hundred people, and this was for security purposes. Their houses were semi-permanent, built on alluvial soil, near natural levees. This is because the land was easy to till, had an adequate and effective drainage system, and was productive. Politically, each community within these tribes was autonomous, and was linked to others by shared kinship ties, and similar traditional practices. These people were under a chief during peace times, and during periods of war, they were under war leaders, who assumed political leadership. Social stratification was insignificant amongst these tribes of Indian tribes of South East. Evidence suggests that the tribe of Chitimacha, found in the lower region of Mississippi, was the only tribe whose society was highly stratified. They had a caste system that ranked people within a marriage group. In the Timucuas tribe, the King was supreme and highly elevated, while amongst the Cherokees, certain offices were a reserve to particular members of a specific clan (Owings, 23). In relation to marriage, the dowry was paid by both the groom and the bride. The groom gave wild game to the bride, while she gave him wild plants and fruits as a symbol of his love. The practice of polygyny was acceptable, but with consent from both parties. Finally, there religious belief was animism. They thought that animals also had a soul, and they could seek vengeance against them through their chief god. On this basis therefore, hunting was a sacred and religious event. Changes during Contact and Colonialism: Contact with the Europeans and their colonizers changed almost all of the cultural values of the South Easter Indians. For instance, Europeans came with horses and sheeps, and they traded these animals with the Indian tribes. Initially, Indians kept only dogs, but with the entry of these animals, herding became a way of life. The Europeans also came with guns, and this revolutionized the manner in which they could conduct warfare. On this basis therefore, the Indian tribes replaced the axes, metal tools that they used in war, with guns. Their religious beliefs also changed, from animism, to Roman Catholics. For instance, in the periods 1565-66, the Jesuits tried to conduct missionary work in South Carolina, and Coastal Georgia, but because of hostilities emanating from these people, they left their mission stations. However, by 1700, missionaries established more than 100 mission stations in Southern Georgia and Florida. The power structures amongst these tribes that were characterized by chieftainship began to disappear. This is because of the influences of religion, and diseases which the chiefs were unable to cure. During the 18th century, missionaries abandoned their work in South East America, because of Imperial European wars. This resulted to a merge amongst smaller Indian tribes, with major Indian tribes such as the Choctaws, Creeks, and the Cherokees. They engaged in alliances with Imperial powers, for purposes of trade, and initiating diplomatic relations. However, by the mid of the 18th century, the military and economic successes of these tribes was under threat by the immigration of Europeans to the region. There was pressure for land, and the Indian tribes were reluctant to release their lands to these settlers. Because of this, conflict was inevitable. However, the Cherokee tribe used legal means to guarantee their political independence, and safeguard their properties. However, they did not succeed in protecting their properties, and were forcefully removed from their lands through the enactment of the Indian removal act of 1830. Conclusion: In conclusion, the Indians of South East America changed their traditions after a contact with the Europeans, and colonialists. They became Christians, and formed an organized political association which had the responsibility of protecting their interests. They began trading with the international community, such as the French, the British and the Spanish. As a result of these trades, these people prosperous and owned huge chunks of land. This paper has managed to identify these issues, and effectively explain them. This paper has also managed to identify the various cultural values of South East Indians, and how these cultures affected their lives. For instance, this paper explains the marriage values of these Indians, and identifies that women were allowed to have more than one husband. A concept called polygyny. During the contact period, this paper has identified a major change that occurred amongst the Indians of South East America. That is the introduction of Christianity, and domestication of animals such as sheeps and horses. On this basis therefore, this paper has managed to fulfill its objective of analyzing the pre-contact values of South East Asians, and changes in their traditions after contact. Works Cited: Owings, Alison. Indian voices: listening to native americans.. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2012. Print. Read More