" northern americans information" short essay answer

Short Essay Question: We considered the various theories to explain the migration of native peoples into the new world and their motivations to do so. Alice Kehoe considers these explanations, while also examining Native Americans’ position that no migration ever existed and Native Americans have always been in North America. Based on what you now know concerning the various creation stories in the readings, including explorers, traders, soldiers, and other written and verbal accounts, does it seem plausible that native peoples have always existed here, or are you convinced that other, scientific theories are more plausible? Briefly, state you position, and your supporting evidence for it Short Essay Question: The assigned Day article in Unit 4, “The Indian As An Ecological Factor In The Northeastern Forest” challenges the long-held notion that when Europeans first encountered Native peoples in the Northeast, they observed vast, unbroken, pristine forests. Explain why he argues in favor of an alternate explanation. What evidence does Day provide to counter this argument? Short Essay Question: Readings: William E. Doolittle: "Agriculture in North America on the Eve of Contact: A Reassessment". Understanding of the cultivation practices of native North Americans at the time of contact 1492 remains imperfect. Doolittle argues that the problem with archaeological excavations and surveys is their traditional focus on site function as opposed to food production He focuses his attention on what he calls “subtleties” in certain natural features disrupted by human alteration that a geographer might see that an archaeologist couldn’t. What are some of the features Doolittle identifies, and how do these insights contribute to a deeper understanding of Native American agricultural practices and strategies? Short Essay Question: Readings: Josephy: Northern Hunters—Franz Boas’ work among the Central Eskimo convinced him that the physical environment placed certain limitations, while at the same time, created other possibilities for survival. In the Nanook film, you saw how seasonal change affected the availability of food to Arctic peoples. In the documentary on the Subarctic, you saw how innovation overcame hunting and transportation difficulties. Ridington reminds us that hunting was part of a complex adaptive strategy. In your view, explain the notion of how living with, not fighting against the environment is played out in these two culture areas. (You may wish to use the anthropological approach to culture—social organization, material culture, or technology) to support your answer. Short Essay Question: Franz Boas shaped the way in which Native American culture was studied in the early 20th century in terms of the methods used and the general philosophy of the documentation of presumably ‘dying’ American Indian culture. Consider the various contributors to the idea of ‘culture areas’ as a theoretical construct for the categorizing of broad groupings of Native nations (tribes). After having examined the six culture areas we’ve covered thus far, and given the diversity of individual tribes (like, for example the Plains-Prairie area), what do you see as the major advantages or disadvantages of using the culture area concept? Please provide documentation to support your position. Short Essay Question: By introducing the horse in the 1600’s, the Spanish helped usher in a number of long-term changes to the formerly nomadic, pedestrian buffalo-hunting Plains-Prairie cultures. Discuss three of the major consequences that resulted from these changes, and on balance, whether you feel that these changes were ultimately to the benefit or detriment of the Plains-Prairie culture area.