United States History Student Edition

E Gathering Seeds in California

Complete Your Inquiry EVALUATE SOURCES AND USE EVIDENCE Refer back to the Compelling Question and the Supporting Questions you developed at the beginning of the lesson. 1. Evaluating What sorts of Native American lifestyles are reflected in these sources? 2. Synthesizing What resources are depicted in these sources? How do the artifacts and stories reflect the importance of those resources? 3. Gathering Sources Which sources helped you answer the Supporting Questions and the Compelling Question? Which sources, if any, challenged what you thought you knew when you first created your Supporting Questions? What information do you still need in order to answer your questions? What other viewpoints would you like to investigate? Where would you find that information? 4. Evaluating Sources Identify the sources that helped answer your Supporting Questions. How reliable is each source? How would you verify the reliability of each source? COMMUNICATE CONCLUSIONS 5. Collaborating Work with a partner to discuss the effects of geography on the everyday lives of Native American peoples. How do these sources highlight significant geographical differences? Create a poster to show the environments related to each of the resources using images found online. Describe each environment and its relation to the source in the lesson. TAKE INFORMED ACTION Creating a Communication Campaign for Change Native Americans face many challenges such as poor health care, lack of housing, and discrimination. Research an issue faced by Native Americans today. Identify the problem, the causes, and possible solutions. Create a communication campaign to promote public awareness about the issue and attract support for the cause. You should include details from your research to persuade others to become involved.

Like many early Native Americans, the Pomo people of California gathered nuts, berries, seeds, and roots as part of their lifestyle. In this photo from 1924, a Pomo woman is shown gathering seeds. The woman is using traditional tools for the task, but she is not wearing traditional clothing.

PRIMARY SOURCE: PHOTOGRAPH

EXAMINE THE SOURCE 1. Analyzing Describe the tools the woman in the photograph is using. The tool in her right hand is called a seed beater. From what materials does the seed beater appear to be made? Out of what materials does the basket in her other hand appear to made? How do the tools themselves show the importance and influence of the local environment? 2. Making Generalizations How does the woman appear to be using the tools? Do you think other gathering societies in the Americas might have used similar tools? Explain.

The Protected Art Archive/Alamy Stock Photo

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The First Americans