Native American/First Nations History

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 		Black Hawk
Rather than spend the rest of his life as a hunted man, Black Hawk laid down his arms and embraced a life of peace.
Last Stand of the British Band
Trapped along the banks of the Bad Axe River, Black Hawk made one last attempt to call a truce.
Lenni Lenape People and Naming
The Lenni Lenape people had names that were individual to each person. The only way to get a true name was to request one from the name-giver. Nicknames were often used.
Tlingit/Lingit Language of Alaska and Canada
The Tlingit of Alaska and the Yukon Territory have a language that is endangered. Each year, the amount of speakers is decreasing. But schools are starting to teach it.
The Lenni Lenape and Their Pre-Colonial Clothing
Precontact Lenni Lenape life was hard work. They made their clothes from plant fibers, but mostly animal skins. What they wore was simple and functional.
Marriage and Family in Lenni Lenape Culture
Pre-contact Lenni Lenape people believed that women were the heads of the household. Marriage and divorce were simple ceremonies carried out between families.
Black Hawk Strikes
In the summer of 1832, Black Hawk struck out at settlers and military posts along the border of Illinois while the United States worked to counter his presence.
Lenni Lenape People and the Concept of Death
During the time before Colonial America, the Lenni Lenape had a rich and vibrant culture. This culture included burial traditions and the ideas of the after life.
Lenni Lenape Village Construction
The Lenni Lenape people originally lived in present-day Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Their main living structure and family home was called a Wigwam.
The British Band and Stillman's Run
In the summer of 1832, Black Hawk once again returned to Illinois to build alliances with neutral tribes.
Mary Collins – Advocate for the Sioux
Mary Collins was a Christian missionary who fought for Native American rights, was fluent in the Lakota language, and formed a lasting friendship with Chief Sitting Bull.
The Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the name given to the forceful relocation of Native Americans from the southeastern United States to west of the Mississippi.
Black Hawk and Keokuk
Though of the same nation, Keokuk and Black Hawk were on opposite sides of the debate on the topic of land cessions.
Warrior Spirit Honored On Veteran's Day
A tribute November 10th at Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation for tribal vets who served in the United States military was even more significant for where it was held.
Black Hawk's Emerging Power
Black Hawk began to speak out against Keokuk and his close relationship with the United States.
Prelude to War
While Black Hawk fought, Keokuk negotiated--the result was a rift between the Sauk and Fox.
The Warfare Culture of the Iroquois
In the two centuries before the American Revolution, the French, Dutch, and English viewed the Six Nations of the Iroquois as the fiercest warriors in the Northeast.
The Rise of Black Hawk
Striking with a small band of warriors, the Sauk war chief raged against the American presence in his homeland.
Native American Sweat Lodge to Purify the Soul
The primary purpose of the Native American Sweat Lodge is to repair damage to the mind, body, and spirit. The ceremony is used to re-purify those that enter.
Resisting Relocation
The Sauk and Fox forged a union to provide mutual security. Together they resisted the American advance.
Westward Migration of Native Tribes
After the relocation of the Choctaw Nation, the United States steeped up its efforts to remove native tribes and resettle them in Indian Territory.
The Ondinnonk or Dream Culture of the Iroquois
With sophisticated observance and language that predates Freud and Jung by nearly 400 years, the Iroquois cultivated a significant understanding of the unconscious mind.
Choctaw Relocation
Between 1831 and 1833, the Choctaw Nation was moved into Oklahoma under the supervision of armed American soldiers.
The First Removal
In September of 1830, the Choctaw Nation ceded 11 million acres of land to the American government in a controversial treaty.
New Orleans Cuisine
New Orleans is called the American Melting Pot. History explains it all. Each culture involved contributed to the unique cuisine that's now world famous.
Andrew Jackson and Indian Relocation
In the late spring of 1830, two opposing viewpoints clashed over the future of America's policy towards Indian tribes.
Powwow Feather Fans
Powwows are fun to attend and exciting to watch. Details of outfits are overlooked many times. One accessory that many dancers refuse to dance without is the dance fan.
Women's Fancy Shawl Fascination
The powwow is a living part of Native American culture. As each generation passes, new things are being added. During the 1940's, the category of Fancy Shaw was added.
Animal Hide Robes and Blankets of the Plains
People living a traditional life on the Plains took pride in their material culture. One article clothing considered a multifunctional piece is the animal hide robes.
Women's Southern Cloth Dresses
At powwows, women are the overlooked beauties of the dance arena. Dresses that women wear are unique to that dancer or tribe. One progressive style is the Southern Cloth.
The Grass Dance Progression
Some powwow dance categories began as a ceremonial act, others, to wow the crowds. One evolved dance that is steeped in history and meaning is the grass dance.
Indian Removal Act
In 1830, Andrew Jackson rammed a law through Congress that would open the door for the removal of Indian nations to the western expanse.
Removal and Relocation
Working hand in hand with assimilation, removal became a key component of America's policy towards Indian tribes.
Imposters Sell Fake Seminole Crafts in Florida
The Indian Arts and Craft Act of 1990 is a truth-in-advertising law that regulates the marketing of Indian arts and crafts products in the United States.
Roots of Assimilation
From the Colonial Period, white settlers have made efforts to cultivate Indian tribes--a policy known as assimilation.
Assimilation of American Native Communities
Under the Office of Indian Affairs, the old policy of assimilation was renewed.
Office of Indian Affairs
With the end of the factory system, the Office of Indian Affairs took over the direction of American policy towards Indian tribes.
Office of Indian Trade
The Factory System was created through the Trade and Intercourse Acts, but the Office of Indian Trade created a national directorate for these posts.
Trade and Intercourse
Between 1796 and 1802, the United States government refined its trade policy.
Funding Trade
While the federal government set up a series of rules governing trade with Indian nations, they did not provide for the mechanisms of that trade.
Revisions to the Intercourse Act
Under the leadership of President George Washington, the United States reaffirmed its policy of fair trade with Indian tribes in 1793.
Trade and Intercourse Act of 1790
The first Trade and Intercourse Act, passed in 1790, outlined the rules governing economic relationships between the United States and Indian tribes.
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was an effort to curtail white settlement on Indian lands and establish a set of rules for future expansion.
Honoring Native American Code Talkers
Bill Toledo, an 85-year-old Native American, speaks throughout the United States about his life as a Navajo Code Talker during World War ll.
Porcupine Hair Roaches Worn at Powwows
The modern powwow has brought many ideas and changes to many tribes all across the continent. One impressive evolution has been the hair roach, worn by male dancers.
The Evolution of the Powwow Dance Bustle
Powwow dancers sway and move with the music. One article of clothing that seems to confuse people is the feathered attachment to mens' clothes, which are called bustles.
Jingle Dress Dancing at Powwows
There are many dance styles that can be seen at a contemporary Prairie powwow. One that stands out for it's beauty, grace, unique sound and attire is the Jingle Dress.
Negotiations With Indian Tribes
This is a brief history of diplomatic relations between the United States and Indian nations.
Colonial Day Kidnapping
The Jemison family lived in the Buchanan Valley in Adams County, Pennsylvania when Mary and a neighbor boy were taken to the Ohio Valley by the Shawnee Indian Tribe.
Cherokee Naming Ceremonies
Native American culture gives depth to our understanding of the world. The Cherokee, in particular, offer a visionary perspective on the link between names and identity.