Native American Trivia

1. What U.S. president, along with his secretary, Henry Knox, followed a policy of assimilation, which argued that Native Americans should be "civilized" to make them as much like white Americans as possible?

From Quiz The Once Proud Five

Answer: George Washington

In 1790, Henry Knox, Secretary of War in the Washington administration negotiated the Treaty of New York. The following is a quote from that document, "That the Creek nation may be led to a greater degree of civilization, and to become herdsmen and cultivators, instead of remaining in a state of hunters, the United States will from time to time furnish gratuitously the said nation with useful domestic animals and implements of husbandry". Washington was of the opinion that the natives could be assimilated. The issue of colonial expansion versus the indigenous population was present from the very beginning of colonization. The French and Indian War was the North American phase of the Seven Years War (1756-1763) between France and Great Britain. The British victory meant the acquisition of huge territories in North America. The subsequent Proclamation of 1763, by which King George III forbade colonization of any lands west of the Appalachian Mountains, was meant to appease the indigenous population. Of course, it angered the colonists and was one of the causes of the revolution.

From Quiz Native Americans in the U.S. Military, Part II

Answer: Vanishing American

Native Americans were considered savages and therefore, by nature, inferior to the 'civilized' white man. "The Vanishing American Theory" held little hope for the survival of Native Americans unless they could be civilized. Adapting the European culture meant Native Americans would lose their independence, hospitality and courage but would retain their vices. Those vices, coupled with learned "Anglo" vices, would insure their extinction. Against the odds, by 1940, the Native American population in the U.S. had risen to 350 thousand. Of those, more than 44 thousand saw military service in WWII. Forty-four percent volunteered. Several hundred female Native Americans served as WACS, WAVES and in the Army Nurse Corps. The War Department asserted that if the general population had enlisted at the same rate as Native Americans the draft wouldn't have been necessary.

From Quiz Native Americans in the U.S. Military, Part I

Answer: Han Yerry

On August 6, 1777, the "Pennsylvania Journal" wrote of Yerry as follows: "... a friendly Indian, with his wife and son, who distinguished themselves remarkably on that occasion. The Indian killed nine of the enemy, when, having received a ball through his wrist that disabled him from using his gun, fought with his tomahawk. His son killed two and his wife, on horseback, fought by his side with pistols during the whole action." The battle lasted six hours. Yerry was of mixed blood -- born to a German father. Initially known at Han Ury, his native name was Tewahowagarahe (He who takes up the Snow Shoe). He and his wife, Tyonajanegen (Two Kettles Together), reportedly became among the wealthiest of Oneida. His death was the result of an Indian attack on a scouting party he was guiding. The entire party was wiped out and buried in a mass grave in Rochester, NY. Joseph Brant, Blackfish and Cheeseekau were British allies who believed the British would restrict the colonist's seizure of Native American lands.

From Quiz Connecting with the Ojibwe People

Answer: The Original People

The Ojibwe language was initially only a spoken language. Written versions appeared later, using the Roman alphabet. Due to this, there are numerous spellings and various transliterations of Ojibwe. However, the basic meanings remain the same. Anishinaabeg is also translated to mean True People and First Man. The translation of Ojibwe is "puckered" and relates to the style of moccasin they wore.

From Quiz Igloos and Tipis and Wampum, oh, my!

Answer: hogan

Six-sided hogans appeared around the turn of the nineteenth to twentieth century, and even eight-sided hogans have been built. Some songs say that coyote built the first Hogan with the help of the beavers.

From Quiz The Life of Sitting Bull

Answer: Jumping Badger

Sitting Bull's parents did not choose this name for any particular reason as they knew he would get a name that fitted him better.

From Quiz The Sand Creek Massacre

Answer: November 29, 1864

The attack took place in the southeastern Colorado Territory. An estimated 70 to 163 Indians were killed and mutilated. About two-thirds of that group were women and children.

From Quiz Custer's Last Stand

Answer: he believed his command had been discovered

Custer decided to engage the hostiles on the 25th without support because lead elements of his command had been discovered by Indian scouts. Knowing that the Indians tended to scatter upon discovery, he decided to attack. In actuality, they did not report the presence of army troopers.

From Quiz Custer's Last Stand: The Little Bighorn

Answer: Battle of Greasy Grass Creek

The Lakota and Cheyenne called this engagement the battle of Greasy Grass Creek.

From Quiz Tecumseh: His Life and Times

Answer: Shooting Star

He was the second son among seven siblings. His mother was called Methoataske and his father was Pucksinwah.

From Quiz Crazy Horse of the Lakota

Answer: 'In the Wilderness'

Pronounced CHA-O-HA in Lakota, it means 'at one with nature'. 'Curly' or 'Light Hair' was the nickname given to him by his mother as he had light curly hair like his mother, 'Worm' or 'Waglula' is the name his father took after passing down the name 'Crazy Horse' to his son (Tasunka Witko - 'his horse is crazy').

From Quiz Cherokee Chief Doublehead

Answer: Kentucky

He was born in 1744 in Stearns, Kentucky.

From Quiz The Anasazi

Answer: Ancient enemy

The Navajo word 'Anasazi' has been used to describe the Ancestral Puebloans since the early 1900s. Some modern-day Puebloans take offense to it and see it as a sort of ethnic slur since it refers to their ancestors as the 'enemy'. Some sources do translate the word 'Anasazi' as 'ancient ones', though it is derived from the Navajo words 'anaa' (enemy) and 'sazi' (ancestors).

From Quiz The Trail of Tears

Answer: 2,200 miles

The Cherokee Trail of Tears was about 2,200 miles. The unhappy Cherokees were forced to follow the soldiers for a year (!) to what is now the state of Oklahoma.

From Quiz The Ute - A Forgotten Tribe

Answer: Utah

The primary tribe of Ohio is Chippewa ...The primary tribe of Montana is Arapaho, and the primary tribe of Indiana is Cherokee.

From Quiz Native American History

Answer: Wampanoag

The Wampanoag tribe also showed the Pilgrims how to farm beans and squash.

From Quiz Powwow Time!

Answer: Gathering of Nations

The Gathering of Nations is a four day powwow that is held in Albuquerque, NM.

From Quiz Cherokee History

Answer: De Soto

Hernando de Soto met the Cherokee in 1540 as he searched for gold in the Appalachians. He would later become the first European to see the Mississippi.

From Quiz Native Americans of North America

Answer: Southeast

The Cherokee were located close to where the Muskogee Creek and the Clawba were in the Southeast. They were close to the modern day Carolinas and northern Georgia. The Cherokee were around between 1755 and 1838, when they were marched to Oklahoma on the infamous "Trail of Tears". It was also the largest of the five civilized tribes in the Southeast.

From Quiz Navajo History and Culture

Answer: West Virginia

The Navajo Reservation includes more than two million acres and more than 200,000 people.

From Quiz Native California

Answer: Hupa, Yurok and Karok

The Hupa, Yurok and Karok, considered by many anthropologists to represent the southernmost extremity of the Northwest Coast Culture Area -- extending from southeastern Alaska to Humboldt and Del Norte Counties in Northern California -- shared virtually identical material cultures while speaking Algonkian, Athabaskan and Uto-Aztecan languages respectively. The difference between these language groups is similar to what we find, in European terms, between the Romance/Latin, Slavic and Germanic languages. They are almost totally unrelated. While this linguistic situation is not totally without parallels in other parts of the world, the Hupa, Yurok and Karok are a striking example.

From Quiz Native American History and Culture

Answer: Cherokee

From Quiz Nez Perce History

Answer: Chief Joseph

He became chief in 1871 when his father 'Old Joseph' died.

From Quiz The Ghost Dance

Answer: Renewal of the world

The ghost dance was performed during the late 19th century, during the period of encroachment on the territory of Native Americans of the great plains by the white man. The Ghost Dance was thought to be a method to renew the age prior to the white man's arrival. Also, the spirits of the dead were to be called back during the dance.

From Quiz Trail of Tears

Answer: Cherokee

From Quiz The Once Proud Five

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson wanted the Native Americans to become Americans and assimilate or be forcibly removed from their ancestral lands. The five tribes were called "civilized" because they had partially adopted white culture and they had signed treaties in which they agreed to removal. Jefferson's writings and actions about and towards Native Americans demonstrate the complexity of the times, the conflicts of colonization, and the policies of warfare and cultural genocide.

From Quiz Native Americans in the U.S. Military, Part II

Answer: Clarence L. Tinker

Clarence Leonard Tinker was born in 1887 to an Osage/English father and German mother near Pawhuska, OK on the Osage Nation. He was reared in Osage traditions. His Native American name, Ce-ce-mno-l, translates to 'Restless Elk As He Goes'. While of mixed blood, Tinker's father, George Edward Tinker, always asserted he was 100% Osage in spirit. Tinker's first job was working in the print shop of the first Osage newspaper. Wah-Sha-She-News was founded and published by Tinker's father. In 1912, Clarence Tinker was accepted into the U.S. Army and received a 2nd Lieutenant's commission in the Infantry. In 1922, after completing flying lessons, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps. Tinker served as Assistant Military Attache for Aviation in London, England where he was awarded the Soldier's Medal for rescuing a Navy pilot from burning wreckage. After standing as Commandant of the Air Service Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, he acted as Commanding Officer of numerous bomber squadrons in the U.S. Gen. Tinker died at Midway during a long-range bombing mission on the Japanese. His aircraft fell out of formation and disappeared. His body, those of his crew and the aircraft were never recovered. Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma is named in his honor. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal posthumously.

From Quiz Native Americans in the U.S. Military, Part I

Answer: Ely S. Parker

Parker became a historical figure due, primarily, to his contribution in drafting the terms of surrender at Appomattox that ended the Civil War. The terms were written in his hand. He was born Hasanoanda (The Reader) in 1828 and was also known as Donehogawa (He Holds the Door Open). Parker's formal education started at a Baptist missionary school where he received his Christian name. He went on to study law, but New York State would not allow him to practice due to his race. Fully bilingual, it is said he then studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to become an engineer. However, the institute has no record of his attendance. Parker struck up a friendship with Ulysses S. Grant while working on a construction project in Galena, Illinois. This life-long friendship led Grant to secure Parker a commission in the Union Army and a position on Grant's staff. Parker became known as "Grant's Indian" and spent most of his life trying to bridge his native heritage with the white man's world. Stand Watie was a Cherokee and brigadier-general in the Confederate Army. Henry Berry Lowrie was with the Lumbee tribe. Lowrie led a band of resistance fighters against the Confederacy in North Carolina. Jackson McCurtain, a Choctaw, was a Confederate lieutenant colonel of the First Choctaw Battalion.

From Quiz We Were Warriors

Answer: Mi'kmaq

Although it is often said that America was discovered in 1492, Mi'kmaq tribal stories give credibility to the Viking story. The legend of blue-eyed people coming from the east in a floating tree-filled island full of people, to the Mi'kmaq the Viking long ship may have looked like a large floating island.

From Quiz Connecting with the Ojibwe People

Answer: Three Fires

The Council of Three Fires' participants were the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi. According to Potawatomi elder Shup-Shewana, the council took place in 796 A.D. at Michilimackinac. Michilimackinac is an area of the Great Lake around the Straits of Mackinac. Its central location provided many meetings for the Council of Three Fires. The council brought together people whose languages and territories were near. They met to discuss military and political matters.

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Last Updated Apr 13 2024 5:45 AM

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