The Eastern Woodlands

1
The Eastern Woodlands
2
The Region

• Because the region is so large, it is broken into
  smaller geographic regions.
• There are actually three distinct areas
• The Great Lakes
• The Northeast
• The Southeast
• The Great Lakes region is included with the
  Northeast for this class.

3
The Environment
The Woodlands are characterized by enormous
forests. Many of the trees are deciduous and
lose their leaves each year. Even though America
has lost 90 of our forests, the general feel of
the Woodlands is still evident. Since there has
been such a vast amount of wood available in the
Eastern Woodlands for thousands of years, the use
of wood in artistic construction is also
prominent.
4
The Lifestyle
Life in the Eastern Woodlands has been primarily
sedentary since the Archaic Period. People lived
in villages and towns, with outlying sites for
food gathering, production and procurement. A
network of trade routes and information systems
existed thousands of years before Contact through
which goods, ideas and materials traveled. There
was a heavier reliance on agriculture in the
southeast, and hunting and gathering in the
northeast. Climates varied considerably from one
end of the range to the other.
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The People
The tribes of the Eastern Woodlands are the
descendents and inheritors of the prehistoric
cultural complex from the Archaic period. In
both the Northeast and Southeast, there are
Ceremonial Complexes which illustrate the
continuity of cultural and artistic connection
from thousands of years ago, to today.
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The impact of Contact
Change
Trade
Disease
Loss
Adaptation
Displacement
Population pressures

• Disease had terrible impact on the tribes of
  the Eastern Woodlands as a result of Contact and
  this had powerful effect on the artistic
  production of tribes.
• In some communities, the death rates were
  complete and there were no survivors. In others,
  the loss of life impaired traditions and culture
  to the extent that they were unable to recover.
• In some cases, all that remains of some tribes
  are the few pieces of art that have survived.

7
The Northeast
Tribes relied on hunting and gathering for
subsistence, living in villages and year-round
communities. Sme nations also farmed the 3
sisters corn, beans, squash.
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• Sedentary agricultural villages
• Farming supplemented by hunting
• The ratio of hunting to farming varied
• Coastal people relied more on fish and shellfish
• Housing longhouse/wigwam
• Extensive warfare before Europeans
• Highly developed political structures

9
Tribes and Alliances
While there were many political alliances between
tribes in the Northeast, one of the most famous
is the Iroquois Confederacy the People of the
Longhouse. The Six Nations or Haudenosaunee,
remain a powerful alliance of six
tribes. -Onondaga -Cayuga -Mohawk -Oneida -Se
neca -Tuscarora
10
The Southeast
Tribes relied on agricultural practices for
subsistence, and lived in sedentary towns.
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• Intensive agriculture in well watered river
  valleys and piedmont.
• Centralized political organization.
• Moundbuilders (remember this is a time period not
  a tribe) highly developed social and religious
  organization.
• Diffusion of religious ideas from Olmec of
  Mexico

12
Southeastern Tribal Nations

• While there were many political alliances between
  tribes in the Southeast, one of the most famous
  group of nations is the Five Civilized Tribes.
• The Five Tribes may have been adversaries in the
  past, but are political and social allies today.
• -Cherokee
• -Choctaw
• -Chickasaw
• -Creek
• -Seminole

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Artistic Traditions
Changes in artistic conventions and traditions
occurred first in the Woodlands because the trade
materials and influences were present.
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Fingerweaving
One of the few textile forms that is produced
without a loom.
15
Seminole Patchwork
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Silverwork
Silver working replaced Native cold hammer
metalworking traditions after Contact.
17
Shellwork
The elaborate carving and decoration of shells
extends from the prehistoric period to the
present in the Eastern Woodlands.
18
Northeastern Basketry
Splint and wickerwork basketry is very common,
but many other styles are also produced.
19
Southeastern Basketry
Wicker weave and split river-cane baskets are the
forms most commonly produced, but coiled pine
needle baskets are also found.
20
Woodcarving
Wooden implements like this Chippewa ladle and
Narragansett bowl are rare. Many carved wooden
items were destroyed during the early years of
Contact in an effort to eradicate disease
epidemics. Young men were often responsible for
carving the household dishes and utensils for
their family.
21
False Face Masks
A tradition of the northern part of the Eastern
Woodlands, these masks have been carved for
thousands of years. To carve a mask, one must be
a member of the False Face Society. The masks
are cared for by the Clan Mothers, but are used
by men in healing ceremonies. There are many
different kinds of masks because there are many
illnesses to heal.
22
Husk Face Masks
These masks are found throughout the Woodlands
and are used for healing in the home. Most
families would maintain husk faces for healing
common illnesses and complaints.
23
Booger Masks
This style of mask comes from the southern part
of the Woodlands. Carved by Cherokee artists for
dance performance, healing, and ceremonial
use. They continued to be carved and used by
members of the Eastern Band Cherokee in North
Carolina.
24
Quillwork
Quillwork was first impacted in the Woodlands,
and eventually nearly replaced by the use of
glass seed beads for decorating clothing and
other items.
25
Moosehair Embroidery
A tradition which continues to be produced by a
few families today.
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Beadwork

• The first tiny glass seed beads were introduced
  in the Woodlands as trade items, along with silk
  ribbon and fabrics, from the French and English.
• Native artisans quickly adapted these colorful
  and durable beads to clothing and adornment.
• Their desirability created change within tribal
  economic systems.
• The new glass beads nearly replaced the tradition
  of porcupine quillwork.
• Floral motifs are most common in Woodlands
  beadwork traditions.

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Weaponry
Warclubs and other defensive weapons were created
in response to Contact. These were not weapons
used in hunting, only for combat. Tomahawks were
an early favorite trade item.
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Sculpture
Both stone and wood are used in sculpture.
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Woodlands Artists
30
Martha Berry, Cherokee
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Knokovtee Scott Cherokee/Creek
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Rowena Bradley Cherokee
Split river-cane baskets with natural dyes.
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Marcus Amerman, Choctaw
Specialty - beaded portraiture.
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Maude Klegg, Ojibway
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Ramona Peters, Wampanoag
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Clara Neptune, Passamaquoddy
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Cyril Henry, Onondaga
Soapstone carvings.
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Norval Morriseau, Ojibway
39
Mary Kawennatakie, Mohawk
Sweetgrass and black ash splint basketry.