Homes Across Native Nations: Then and Now

Different Regions, Distinct Ways of Life

Native nations are distinct peoples with their own histories and ways of life. This passage compares Haudenosaunee nations of the Northeast with the Diné nation of the Southwest. The regions had different forests, rivers, dry lands, plants, and weather, so people made thoughtful choices about homes, food, tools, and land.

Long ago, many Haudenosaunee families lived in longhouses. Builders used wooden poles and sheets of bark. Several related families could share one longhouse. In the Northeast, people used forests, rivers, and fields. They grew corn, beans, and squash, and they also hunted deer, fished, and gathered nuts and berries. Digging sticks, stone axes, bows, and fishing nets helped with work.

Long ago, Diné families in the Southwest built hogans with logs, mud, and earth. Diné farmers planted corn, beans, and squash where rain or other water would allow crops to grow. People gathered piñon nuts and other plants, hunted, and later raised sheep. Grinding stones helped prepare food, and looms helped people weave. Farmers used their knowledge of dry soil, slopes, rain, and seasons when choosing fields.

Today, Haudenosaunee and Diné people live in many kinds of homes, including modern houses. Some Haudenosaunee people still plant traditional crops or make traditional crafts. Some Diné people still weave, raise sheep, or gather foods. People may use modern tools while also keeping older skills. Native communities continue to change while remembering and sharing their histories.