Traditional Lifestyles of Indigenous Tribes Before European Contact

Earth was not a possession or conquest like the Native Americans communities. It was an alive entity that gave food, shelter, medicinal aid and spiritual counsel. Humans learnt to be keen observers of the natural environment and they knew how animals move and how plants grow and how weather patterns work. This was the knowledge that enabled communities to organize their activities according to the seasonal changes instead of working against them.

Food regimes were localized with each being a good example of adaptation. Most tribes used hunting and fishing as their source of livelihood and the methods used were perfected over the years.Imagine changing your life overnight win a million dollars Enter now!One chance can make you the next big winner.Hunters were taught to hunt and know their behavior and take everything necessary. Communities that engaged in lake fishing invented fishing equipment in the form of nets, traps and spears that adapted to river fishing, lakes and sea waters. It was also important to collect edible plants and berries, nuts and roots. Women and men could have equal responsibility in gathering, and were thus inclined to know the local plant life at great depth.

Agriculture became the main lifestyle of most areas. Crops that indigenous farmers grew included corn, beans, squash, sunflowers, and tobacco. These are not crops that are randomly planted. Societies came up with companion planting that enabled various plants to help each other to grow. The bean vines got a structure provided by corn. Beans enriched the soil. Wet leaves of squash covered the earth and minimized weeds and drying off. There was high level of ecological and soil health awareness in this system.

The homes were constructed in accordance with environment and style of life. The nomadic people who hunted migrating animals or seasonal resources constructed micro-shelters like tipis. The agricultural communities built longhouses, earth lodges, pueblos or plank houses intended to be used as permanent villages. These houses were constructed using the materials that were in the area like wood, stone, earth, bark and grass. Techniques of construction were also transmitted through generations and were rather practical and cultural.

The village life was based on cooperation. Families were co-existing and shared duties. Food preparation, hunting, building and farming were activities that were usually communal. Children were raised with relatives who modeled their behaviors and values to them. The elders were respected as teachers, storytellers and advisors. Community history and cultural identity was preserved in their memories.

Learning was not in classroom settings. Children instead learned through watching, listening to stories and engaging in day to day work. Practical skills that were taught to boys and girls included hunting, fishing, farming, cooking, and crafting. Meanwhile, they also were taught the lesson about morals in terms of stories that clarified the way of acting properly, respecting other people, and balance.

Spirituality was highly integrated in the day to day. The indigenous people did not distinguish the world of the spirit and the material world. Mostly mountains, rivers, animals, plants and heavenly bodies were considered to be spiritually important. Significant events like births, coming-of-age, harvests and seasonal changes were celebrated through ceremonies. Such meetings strengthened their ties as a community and restored their spiritual ties.

The lifestyles demonstrate the principles of respect, equilibrium, collaboration, and sustainability. Most of these values are applicable in the contemporary times.The traditional Indigenous lifestyles are a strong demonstration of the human capability to co-exist with nature.