Identifying Context Clues DIRECTIONS: Highlight the context clues for the meaning of the bolded word.

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1 Identifying Context Clues DIRECTIONS: Highlight the context clues for the meaning of the bolded word. The Creek Confederacy was a confederation, or united group, of different Creek clans. Each clan had its own totem. A delegate, or representative, in the village council or local government was often chosen on the basis of clan. The totem illustrates the lack of discord within a Creek clan. In addition, it represents a connection with a clan s ancestors. A totem believed to give a person a spiritual gift. For example, a panther totem might give some feline characteristic, such as a cat s speed, grace, or cunning. An eagle totem might bestow the gift of foresight, which allows a person to see into the future. Members of a bear clan might consider strength to be their most valuable characteristic. Membership in a clan helps prevent a feeling of isolation in individuals.the clan provides a framework within which people can come together. A list of the totems of American Indians can sound like a magnificent menagerie, for it includes birds, land animals such as the bear, and sea animals such as the killer whale. Large, unexplainable events, such as sudden wind, rain, or thunder, are powerful forces in American Indian culture. The phenomenon of wind has served as a totem for some clans. Totems are used to pass on important qualities, such as courage, intelligence, and vision, to posterity - that is, to children, grandchildren, and so on. The use of totems was no revelation to the Europeans who came to the Americas. Europeans identified their own families with totem-like objects, such as family crests or coats of arms. It is difficult to give an adequate description of the legendary Trotting Coyote of the Navajo people in the United States Southwest. He is so changeable and sneaky that he defies complete description. He is determined to make every situation advantageous to himself. By using tricks, he is able to arrange things in his favor. Trotting Coyote, as he is known among the Navajo, will descend to almost any depths to gain the upper hand over others. He will even stoop to tricking children. To enhance his chance of victory, he will lie, trick, and cheat to get his way. Yet, despite his efforts to better his chances, he rarely comes out on top. Perhaps you have known someone with a conscience as gnarled as Trotting Coyote s. This person probably has a twisted sense of right and wrong. Trotting Coyote is a character who can incite anger in you. Being tricked by him can really stir up angry feelings. Trotting Coyote might seem as inflexible, or stubborn, as a mule to you. He represents the part in all of us that does not want to play by the rules. Every person stands to inherit a few of Trotting Coyote s qualities. HIs traits are passed on to each generation, like a family name. To be fair, Trotting Coyote has his good points, too. All in all, though, he is generally a menace. More often than not, he is a threat to society. Sometimes Coyote works for the mutual benefit of people and himself. Once, he broke the leg of a giant who was killing beings, an action that helped both himself and the human race.

2 LESSON 4: CONTEXT CLUES 4.A: TOTEMS 4.B: COYOTE, THE AMERICAN INDIAN TRICKSTER

3 LESSON 4: LIKE AND OPPOSITE MEANINGS 4.A: TOTEMS 4.B: COYOTE, THE AMERICAN INDIAN TRICKSTER

4 LESSON 4: UNDERSTANDING NEW WORDS AND THEIR USES An American Indian Woman Today

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