Native American and Australian Aboriginal Project

As we travel through Australia Quest, we will compare the lives of the Aboriginal people and the Native Americans.

Here you can get more information about The Australian Aboriginal People and the Native American People.

Native Americans

Aboriginal Australians

Legends / Myths

Indian children listened to their parents tell stories called legends. The legends told how people and nature work together.

Hunting weapons

The Yurok people used spears to catch salmon.

The Mojave people hunted small rabbits, mountain sheep and raccoons.

Trade with others

The Yurok people traded their dried salmon and beads.

Community

The Chumash people lived in villages near Santa Barbara. The Chief was the leader of the community.

Transport

The Chumash were fine boat builders.

Housing

The Mojave people built large rectangular houses with mud-covered grass roofs.

The Yurok people sut planks from redwoods to build their houses or make canoes.

Use of natural resources

The Mojave people used the soil to grow melons, pumpkin and corn.

Special jobs

Some Miwok people made arrow points from a black stone.

Girls

The girls gathered berries and nuts. Their mothers taught them which plants were good to eat. They also learned how to weave baskets.

Boys

The boys spent most of their time spearing fish, making fish traps or making bows.

Ceremonies

Ceremonies taught children much about their way of life. In a special ceremony the Maidu asked the tribal spirits to bless the acorn harvest.

Ways of dressing

For ceremonies the Maidu people dressed in special colorful bird feathers headbands.

Dancing

Dancers shook rattles from pieces of dry wood. They were clapped together as the dancers stomped on foot drums to beat a rhythm.

Art

Central Belief

Nature is everything.

Back to Australia Quest

	Native Americans	Aboriginal Australians
Legends / Myths	Indian children listened to their parents tell stories called legends. The legends told how people and nature work together.
Hunting weapons	The Yurok people used spears to catch salmon. The Mojave people hunted small rabbits, mountain sheep and raccoons.
Trade with others	The Yurok people traded their dried salmon and beads.
Community	The Chumash people lived in villages near Santa Barbara. The Chief was the leader of the community.
Transport	The Chumash were fine boat builders.
Housing	The Mojave people built large rectangular houses with mud-covered grass roofs. The Yurok people sut planks from redwoods to build their houses or make canoes.
Use of natural resources	The Mojave people used the soil to grow melons, pumpkin and corn.
Special jobs	Some Miwok people made arrow points from a black stone.
Girls	The girls gathered berries and nuts. Their mothers taught them which plants were good to eat. They also learned how to weave baskets.
Boys	The boys spent most of their time spearing fish, making fish traps or making bows.
Ceremonies	Ceremonies taught children much about their way of life. In a special ceremony the Maidu asked the tribal spirits to bless the acorn harvest.
Ways of dressing	For ceremonies the Maidu people dressed in special colorful bird feathers headbands.
Dancing	Dancers shook rattles from pieces of dry wood. They were clapped together as the dancers stomped on foot drums to beat a rhythm.
Art
Central Belief	Nature is everything.