Indigenous Geographic Values and Connections to the Land
Grade 4
Geography and Indigenous Culture
For thousands of years before English settlers arrived, Maryland’s Indigenous nations developed complex societies shaped by the land, waterways, and resources of the region. When English colonists began establishing settlements, they entered a place already defined by deep relationships between people and the environment. These two cultures, long separated by an ocean, brought different worldviews, values, and ways of interacting with the land.
In this lesson, students will examine sources from Maryland Indigenous tribal members to understand how geography influences the lifeways, economies, and cultural practices of Indigenous communities. Students will explore how societies in the Americas shaped and were shaped by their environments.
Teacher's Guide and Related Standards
Students will analyze sources from Maryland Indigenous tribal members to explain how geography and the environment shaped their cultures and daily lives.
- How did the geography and environment of Maryland shape Indigenous communities?
Film Clip
- Approximately how many Indigenous tribes existed in what is now Maryland when English colonists arrived in 1634?
- Norris Howard Jr explains that the Indigenous tribes of modern-day Maryland and the Eastern Shore were developed and complex. What characteristics does he use to describe their advancement?
- Rico Newman says that communal living is a core value of Indigenous culture in Maryland. What is an example of communal living?
- Chief Mark Tayac says that “the land and the people are intertwined.” What examples are provided in the clip?
Vocabulary
Supplemental Enrichment Activities
Thinkport, Elementary and Up | Indigenous Maryland Inquiry Kits: Living Off the Land and Water
Indigenous cultures are intertwined with the land. Explore the sources in this inquiry kit to answer the following questions:
- How have Indigenous people used the land and sea to survive?
- How did their use of natural resources change due to colonization?
- In what ways did they take care of natural resources and the environment?
YouTube Video: Heritage Award: Pocomoke Homelands
The Pocomoke Indian Nation continues to occupy the land on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. They still use the natural resources found in their ancestral homeland to meet their needs, care for the environment, and continue their cultural traditions today.
Watch the video from 2:38 to 4:35 to see Buddy Howard talking about and demonstrating traditional skills. List three skills he demonstrates in this clip. How does he use the natural world to do those things?
The Official Piscataway Conoy Tribe: Regalia
The Piscataway Conoy continue to occupy their ancestral homeland on the western shore of Maryland. Explore the link to see how they use the natural resources of their ancestral homeland to celebrate their culture with regalia.
List the natural materials that they included in their regalia and what they were used for. It might include plants, animals, and more.