A Few Days in the

A Few Days in the

Life of the Life of the

Catawba!Catawba!

By: Narayan MohanBy: Narayan Mohan

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My tribe & regionMy tribe & region

My name is Kwahu, which means eagleMy name is Kwahu, which means eagle

I am part of the Catawba tribe.I am part of the Catawba tribe.

My family and I live in the Eastern My family and I live in the Eastern WoodlandsWoodlands

This is my This is my eexxttrraaoorrddiinnaarryy story ….. story …..

Journal Entry 1: Housing Journal Entry 1: Housing (Summer)(Summer)

Wow, what a sultry day! I have to help my dad Wow, what a sultry day! I have to help my dad and brother make the wigwams for my and brother make the wigwams for my family. My dad and brother have to collect family. My dad and brother have to collect the wood, while I weave the mats and cover the wood, while I weave the mats and cover the wigwams with the woven mats. Hard the wigwams with the woven mats. Hard work it is, for a little boy like me, but it seems work it is, for a little boy like me, but it seems like I am going to have to deal with it. It like I am going to have to deal with it. It takes a while to build the wigwams, I say. It’s takes a while to build the wigwams, I say. It’s pretty easy for my dad and brother because pretty easy for my dad and brother because all they have to do is make the structure and all they have to do is make the structure and stick it together. I have to put the woven stick it together. I have to put the woven mats on the wigwam and they fall off almost mats on the wigwam and they fall off almost all the time. Then I have to collect mud and all the time. Then I have to collect mud and stick that to the structure. I am hungry now. stick that to the structure. I am hungry now. Perhaps I will go ask my mother for Perhaps I will go ask my mother for something, hoping she will give me some something, hoping she will give me some small deer meat, my favorite.small deer meat, my favorite.

Journal Entry 1: Food (Summer)Journal Entry 1: Food (Summer)My mother had no food, so my father, my My mother had no food, so my father, my

brother and I went out hunting. While we brother and I went out hunting. While we were out, I saw something move out of were out, I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. To go check what the corner of my eye. To go check what it is, I sneaked away from my father and it is, I sneaked away from my father and brother, and ran through the woods, brother, and ran through the woods, very quietly. Just had I figured out that it very quietly. Just had I figured out that it was a white tailed deer! This was a big was a white tailed deer! This was a big find. It could supply my tribe with food find. It could supply my tribe with food and clothing for days! So, I strung my and clothing for days! So, I strung my bow, notched my arrow, and took aim. I bow, notched my arrow, and took aim. I was shivering, so I calmed my self, and was shivering, so I calmed my self, and then let go of the arrow. The arrow then let go of the arrow. The arrow sailed through the air, flying swiftly, sailed through the air, flying swiftly, before it hit the deer. I jumped for joy, before it hit the deer. I jumped for joy, and went and called my brother and and went and called my brother and father. They were happy too. We father. They were happy too. We carried the deer back to our tribe. They carried the deer back to our tribe. They were all happy to see us, and the deer were all happy to see us, and the deer too. too.

Journal Entry #1: Clothing Journal Entry #1: Clothing (Summer)(Summer)

““Mother, what should I wear for the Mother, what should I wear for the worship?” “ Wear the new deerskin worship?” “ Wear the new deerskin breechcloth your father bought you breechcloth your father bought you yesterday”, my mother said. My yesterday”, my mother said. My mother loves to look good, and it mother loves to look good, and it seems like she wants me to be like her seems like she wants me to be like her too. My dad and brother, on the other too. My dad and brother, on the other hand, are OK about clothes, but still hand, are OK about clothes, but still support my mom on looking nice. Just support my mom on looking nice. Just like me, they wear breechcloths, and like me, they wear breechcloths, and paint tribal tattoos on their faces. paint tribal tattoos on their faces. Almost everyone does. Our parents Almost everyone does. Our parents wear their hair long, so me and my wear their hair long, so me and my brother do the same. I guess I have to brother do the same. I guess I have to get ready for the worship.get ready for the worship.

Journal Entry 1:Tribe Char. Journal Entry 1:Tribe Char. (Summer)(Summer)

We entered the Sun’s temple, and started praying. Just We entered the Sun’s temple, and started praying. Just then, the chief entered. Everyone bowed down, and then, the chief entered. Everyone bowed down, and immediately went back to praying. The chief too started immediately went back to praying. The chief too started praying. We all closed our eyes and started praying to praying. We all closed our eyes and started praying to the sun for good days. We prayed to Manitou too, who the sun for good days. We prayed to Manitou too, who restored the world of mud, after terrible rains.restored the world of mud, after terrible rains.

The worship soon ended, and everyone went back to The worship soon ended, and everyone went back to what they were supposed to do. My mother and some what they were supposed to do. My mother and some other women went back to farming along the Catawba other women went back to farming along the Catawba river, and my father and brother went back to making river, and my father and brother went back to making wigwams. My work was mostly done for the day, so I wigwams. My work was mostly done for the day, so I decided to go take a walk in the woods.decided to go take a walk in the woods.

Journal Entry #2: Terrain Journal Entry #2: Terrain (Summer)(Summer)

I started walking through the woods, when my I started walking through the woods, when my friend just popped out of nowhere and started friend just popped out of nowhere and started walking too. We walked for about for walking too. We walked for about for sometime in the woods, then we had to walk sometime in the woods, then we had to walk up a hill for a while. It was a little bit of a tough up a hill for a while. It was a little bit of a tough journey, because there were a few rocks in journey, because there were a few rocks in the way of us while we were going uphill, but the way of us while we were going uphill, but we handled it and we walked back to our we handled it and we walked back to our wigwams. It was pretty much downhill while wigwams. It was pretty much downhill while we were going back, so it was a breeze.we were going back, so it was a breeze.

By the time I got home, it was early evening. I was thinking on going and By the time I got home, it was early evening. I was thinking on going and playing lacrosse with my brother and his friends, but my mother stopped playing lacrosse with my brother and his friends, but my mother stopped me. She had just finished her work for the day, so she wanted some me. She had just finished her work for the day, so she wanted some time off. She was going to go pick some flowers, and she wanted me to time off. She was going to go pick some flowers, and she wanted me to come with her. I felt a little sorry for her, so I went. I thought we were come with her. I felt a little sorry for her, so I went. I thought we were going to take the route I had just taken earlier. But she went a different going to take the route I had just taken earlier. But she went a different way, and it was much more exciting. We saw broadleaf trees, shrubs way, and it was much more exciting. We saw broadleaf trees, shrubs and wildflowers. She got what she wanted, but I asked her if we could and wildflowers. She got what she wanted, but I asked her if we could explore more. She agreed, and we were off. We saw a whole bunch of explore more. She agreed, and we were off. We saw a whole bunch of animals, like barn owls, black bears, bobcats, and river otters. There animals, like barn owls, black bears, bobcats, and river otters. There were so many that I couldn’t name them all. It was starting to get dark, were so many that I couldn’t name them all. It was starting to get dark, so my mother and I headed back, and I thanked her for the tripso my mother and I headed back, and I thanked her for the trip. .

Journal Entry 2: Animals & Plants Journal Entry 2: Animals & Plants (Summer)(Summer)

Today was a very hot day. The moment I woke up, I Today was a very hot day. The moment I woke up, I could feel myself sweating. This was how it was like could feel myself sweating. This was how it was like every summer. One hot day after the next. I mean, it every summer. One hot day after the next. I mean, it wouldn’t have been much better in the winter anyway. wouldn’t have been much better in the winter anyway. The winters were very cold, and it wasn’t much fun. The winters were very cold, and it wasn’t much fun. The springs were perfect, but there was a lot of The springs were perfect, but there was a lot of pollen, which wasn’t good. It seemed like the fall was pollen, which wasn’t good. It seemed like the fall was perfect. Sometimes, though, it could become very perfect. Sometimes, though, it could become very cold. In the summer, it rained here and there, same cold. In the summer, it rained here and there, same with all the other seasons. And it seemed like it was with all the other seasons. And it seemed like it was going to be a bit drizzly today. I think today is going to going to be a bit drizzly today. I think today is going to be one of those humid days, too. I got out of bed and be one of those humid days, too. I got out of bed and put my breech cloth on. Today was going to be put my breech cloth on. Today was going to be interesting.interesting.

Journal Entry 3: Weather Journal Entry 3: Weather (Summer)(Summer)

Journal Entry 3:Weather Journal Entry 3:Weather (Summer)(Summer)

The drizzle today would mean a good thing and a The drizzle today would mean a good thing and a bad thing. The rain could water the crops we bad thing. The rain could water the crops we were farming. The humidity would be torturing for were farming. The humidity would be torturing for us, which wouldn’t be fun. If it was winter, we us, which wouldn’t be fun. If it was winter, we wouldn’t be able to grow crops at all. The winters wouldn’t be able to grow crops at all. The winters would be slushy and cold , so that wouldn’t work. would be slushy and cold , so that wouldn’t work. The spring would be the best because that is the The spring would be the best because that is the blooming season and it won’t be too hot. We blooming season and it won’t be too hot. We would the get the right amount of rain in the would the get the right amount of rain in the spring. The fall would be good, but it isn’t the spring. The fall would be good, but it isn’t the blooming season and it would be a little cold.blooming season and it would be a little cold.

Journal Entry 3:Weather Journal Entry 3:Weather (Summer)(Summer)

I was standing out in the rain, enjoying it for a while, I was standing out in the rain, enjoying it for a while, when I remembered the hurricane that occurred a when I remembered the hurricane that occurred a few years back in the summer. I was about 6 years few years back in the summer. I was about 6 years old and was really confused on what it was. My old and was really confused on what it was. My brother was about 11 when that happened. I didn’t brother was about 11 when that happened. I didn’t really understand what was going on back then, so really understand what was going on back then, so my mother had to re-narrate the story for me.my mother had to re-narrate the story for me.

It was morning, and the day started out like any normal, It was morning, and the day started out like any normal, at least in the early morning. It was around evening at least in the early morning. It was around evening that the hurricane struck. Everybody was in shock. that the hurricane struck. Everybody was in shock. Some of the houses were blown apart because of the Some of the houses were blown apart because of the very strong winds. very strong winds.

Journal Entry 3: Weather Journal Entry 3: Weather (Summer)(Summer)

The hurricane lasted for about 3 days. My family and I The hurricane lasted for about 3 days. My family and I ate the dry deer meat we had salvaged from our ate the dry deer meat we had salvaged from our temporary wigwam for emergencies wigwam. The temporary wigwam for emergencies wigwam. The hurricane was severe. The rain felt like hailstones hurricane was severe. The rain felt like hailstones beating on our backs. The winds blew us away. beating on our backs. The winds blew us away. After the hurricane had ended, we had to clean up After the hurricane had ended, we had to clean up the gigantic mess, and restore the houses that had the gigantic mess, and restore the houses that had been blown away. It seemed like the Sun god was been blown away. It seemed like the Sun god was unhappy with us and unleashed heavy rains on us. unhappy with us and unleashed heavy rains on us. It seemed like we deserved it. We hadn’t prayed for It seemed like we deserved it. We hadn’t prayed for days at that time, so the Sun had a reason to days at that time, so the Sun had a reason to punish us.punish us.

Journal Entry #3: Weather Journal Entry #3: Weather (Summer)(Summer)

Effects and Causes!Effects and Causes!

Hurricane

Warm water

Moist warm air

Sun god not happy

Aftershock rains in other

places

floods

Damaged tribe

Journal Entry 3: Weather Journal Entry 3: Weather (Summer)(Summer)

My family had survived the storm, which was good. We My family had survived the storm, which was good. We had made a temporary wigwam before it just in case had made a temporary wigwam before it just in case of emergencies. It was made out of tough broadleaf of emergencies. It was made out of tough broadleaf tree bark, and the wood made out of the tree. The tree bark, and the wood made out of the tree. The wigwam was close to being blown away. We had wigwam was close to being blown away. We had prayed to Manitou while that was happening, prayed to Manitou while that was happening, because the Sun god was mad and would not accept because the Sun god was mad and would not accept our prayers, so we prayed to Manitou. Our prayers our prayers, so we prayed to Manitou. Our prayers were fulfilled and Manitou had helped us. The storm were fulfilled and Manitou had helped us. The storm was over. My mother said it could have lasted a lot was over. My mother said it could have lasted a lot more days, and could have been a lot more worse, more days, and could have been a lot more worse, but thankfully it wasn’t.but thankfully it wasn’t.

ReflectionReflection

We will hopefully get better utilities, for farming and stuff We will hopefully get better utilities, for farming and stuff like that. All the families have made temporary like that. All the families have made temporary wigwams just in case of a hurricane, too. Goods are wigwams just in case of a hurricane, too. Goods are coming in from our cousins, the Sioux. We are also coming in from our cousins, the Sioux. We are also sending goods to them. We are thinking of sending sending goods to them. We are thinking of sending some of our citizens to other tribes to learn more some of our citizens to other tribes to learn more about them and create a friendship. We are on the about them and create a friendship. We are on the lookout for any enemies that try to invade our land. lookout for any enemies that try to invade our land. We will protect our precious land by any means. I am We will protect our precious land by any means. I am also learning how to use a spear. I can’t wait! Who is also learning how to use a spear. I can’t wait! Who is volunteering for a test trial?volunteering for a test trial?

ReflectionReflection

(I will pick someone soon to be a test trial partner (I will pick someone soon to be a test trial partner (snicker)). Everyone in my family is doing well. We are (snicker)). Everyone in my family is doing well. We are managing with the food and water. There is a good managing with the food and water. There is a good amount of food, and we are using it wisely, like we amount of food, and we are using it wisely, like we always do. Since we are preserving like that, our future is always do. Since we are preserving like that, our future is looking good and I hope that everyone will continue our looking good and I hope that everyone will continue our tradition and customs and worship. The world is changing tradition and customs and worship. The world is changing every day, and we will only have hope for the best. I will every day, and we will only have hope for the best. I will continue to write to myself, perhaps it makes me feel continue to write to myself, perhaps it makes me feel better. We are working with the Sioux and trading with better. We are working with the Sioux and trading with them, and they help us too. I will have to leave now, them, and they help us too. I will have to leave now, because my father is calling me for hunting. Manitou because my father is calling me for hunting. Manitou bless everyone!bless everyone!

Thoughts on my project Thoughts on my project I thought my project went pretty well because my resources I thought my project went pretty well because my resources

were good and provided good information which let me were good and provided good information which let me finish my project. I enjoyed doing the PowerPoint because I finish my project. I enjoyed doing the PowerPoint because I love doing Power points, and I like doing animations. I did love doing Power points, and I like doing animations. I did not like collecting information (not like collecting information () and putting it on the ) and putting it on the power point though because, I do not enjoy projects and power point though because, I do not enjoy projects and even if I have to do it I do not enjoy because I don’t know if even if I have to do it I do not enjoy because I don’t know if it is good enough. I think I did pretty good on this project it is good enough. I think I did pretty good on this project though because I put my mind to it and did my best, even though because I put my mind to it and did my best, even though it might not be perfect to some people. I would give though it might not be perfect to some people. I would give myself a 98 because I think I did a good job of putting myself a 98 because I think I did a good job of putting information and everything in the PowerPoint, but probably information and everything in the PowerPoint, but probably some of my entries might not have been that interesting some of my entries might not have been that interesting and would have been boring for some peopleand would have been boring for some people

SourcesSources

– www.bigorrin.org– www.grolieronline.org– www.zooamerica.orgzooamerica.org – http://explorepahistory.com/displayimage.php?

imgId=1-2-41C– http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/

fp_wh3.html– http://ed101.bu.edu/StudentDoc/current/ED101fa10/

hillaryw/Woodland.html– http://www.southernenvironment.org/about/

top_10_2012/catawba_river_nc/