- Fact 2 - The Pawnee were a
semi-nomadic
tribe of hunter farmers. Men were in charge of hunting for food
and protecting the camp and the women were in charge of the home
and land
- Fact 3 - Homes and Houses: The
Pawnee generally settled close to the rivers and placed their
earth lodges on high banks. The earth lodges were used
by the Pawnee who wanted
permanent homes to suit their farmer-hunter life styles
- Fact 4 - Earthen houses also called earth lodges, hogans and pit houses
were semi-subterranean dwellings which were dug from the earth,
with a wooden domed mound built over the top which was covered
with earth or reeds. A Pawnee Earth lodge is pictured below
- Fact 5 - The Pawnee also lived in
tepees when they were on the move. A tepee is constructed from
wooden poles and animal skins such as buffalo hides and designed
to be quickly set and quickly dismantled
- Fact 6 - Clothes and Clothing -
Clothes were generally made from the skins of animals which were
sewn together from the thread made from the sinews of deer. Some
clothes were also made from woven cloth
- Fact 7 - Clothing for men: Men wore
breechcloths which were made from a long rectangular piece of
animal skin or cloth which was worn between the legs and tucked
over a belt, so that the flaps of the breechcloth covered the
front and behind. The legs were bare.
- Fact 8 - Clothing: Special, highly decorated
aprons were worn over breechcloths and worn on special occasions
- Fact 9 -
Clothing: Leggings were worn by both men and women to cover the
bare legs and were sometimes decorated with a fringe
- Fact 10 -
Clothing for women: Women wore blouses, made like a poncho, and
wraparound skirts over their leggings
- Fact 11 - Shoes and footwear:
Moccasins were made of soft leather or deerskin and sewn
together with deer sinew. Moccasins were a soft slip on shoe, or
slipper, consist of a sole and sides made of one piece of
leather, stitched together at the top and were a light beige
color.
- Fact 12 - Headdresses: Roach
headdresses (also called porcupine roaches) were worn by the
Pawnee men which was made of a stiff thin strip of animal hair
that goes over the top of the head. They were held open by
comb-like objects, originally carved of antler, called
roachspreaders. Roach headdresses stood straight up from the
head like a tuft or crest and are closely associated with the
Mohawk or Mohican tribes. Roach headdresses were made from a
variety of hairs including white deer tail hair, often dyed red,
moose-hair, porcupine hair and black turkey beard.
- Fact 13 -
Roach headdresses were
attached to a scalp-lock to look like a crest, with the rest of
the head probably shaven. The name derives from its resemblance
to the roaching or clipping of a horse’s mane. Sometimes
feathers or shells were added as decorations. Pawnee Chiefs also
wore long war bonnets
- Fact 14 -
The name of a famous Pawnee leader was was Crooked Hand who was
famous for getting out of his sick bed and organizing a fighting
force by gathering elderly, children and sick warriors to fight
the Sioux.
- Fact 15 - Women's Hair: Hair was
kept long, sometimes braided and on special occasions braids
were decorated with bright strips of cloth
- Fact 16 - Jewelry: Women wore
bead necklaces
- Fact 17 - Face paint / War Paint: Men wore
bright face paint in times of war
- Fact 18 - Pawnee weapons: Weapons
included bows and arrows, war clubs, spears and knives
- Fact 19 - Enemies of the Pawnee
tribe included the the Apache, Kiowa and Sioux
- Fact 20 - History: Many Pawnee were
killed by smallpox and cholera in the mid 1800s
- Fact 21 - Food: Men hunted turkeys,
deer, small game and fish. As farmers crops were produced for
corn, beans, squash and sunflower seeds. Crops, meat and fish
were supplemented by nuts, berries and fruits
- Fact 22 - The Pawnee never fought
against the United States
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