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Native American/First Nations History

Latest Contributing Articles


 		The Remarkable Desperado Henry Starr
The Cherokee Henry Starr was one of the most unusual outlaws in the folklore of the American West. He was precise, bold and courteous and made robbing banks a vocation
The Discovery of America Before Columbus
The myth that Christopher Columbus "discovered" the New World has persisted for centuries. But the man who received all the credit was actually a late arrival.
Pacific Northwest Indian White Conflict
Native Americans and Whites each wanted a mutually beneficial trading arrangnment, but pre contact epidemics played a role in the development of trading relationships.
White Dog Sacrifice of the Iroquois Confederacy
The Iroquois nations believed the Creator had given their ancestors specific instructions on how to perform the white dog sacrifice as a means to show their fidelity.
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.
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.
Indians of Pennsylvania
Captain John Smith described the tribe as giants and gave them the Algonquin name Susquehannocks, which means "people who live by the muddy water".
Geronimo
Geronimo was the most famous Apache warrior that ever lived and he gave both the Mexican and American Governments trouble for nearly 20 years.
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.
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.
Geronimo's Life was Both Thrilling and Tragic
Geronimo fought an ongoing war with the Mexicans after his wife, mother and three little daughters were massacred. His desire for revenge made him a greatly feared man.
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.
Apache Warrior Cochise
Cochise led his people against the dual Mexican and American encroachment into his territory, becoming an American Folk Hero.
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.
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull was the last of the great War Chiefs to defy the U.S. Government and try to preserve his people's ancestral home and heritage.
Narragansett Tribe's Social Life
Prior to contact with Europeens, Nativie Americans in New England and thoughout the United States had a rich and varied social life.
Narragansett Tribe's Prior to English Contact
The Narragansett Tribes Occupied Present Day Rhode Island and was one of the strongest tribes in New England. They enjoyed a life filled with abundance.
Chaco Culture
A look into the history of the Anasazi people, living in the famous Four Corners region of America; also known as Chaco Culture
Passaic River Home to Native American Artifacts
Fishing weirs - stone structures designed by Native Americans to help catch fish - are still found in the Passaic River in Northern New Jersey.
Cherokee Woman of War
Nanye-hi, or Nancy, as she was later called was a respected, beloved, Cherokee Chieftainess that won fame with her eloquent words of peace during tragic times.
The Concept of the Native American Village
Most westerners have always had the impression that the main unit of the Native American people is the tribe - for example, the Iroquois or Algonquin.
Gathering Wild Rice on the River
Gathering wild rice in canoes by traditional method is wonderfully rewarding work for Native people during late August and early September.
The Fountain of Youth Killed the Native American
A short span of coastline in northern Florida plays host to both the beginning and the end for the interaction of native cultures with European arrivals.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
The Native American Church
The Native American Church actively uses the small, peyote cactus bud to enhance their worship service.
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.
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.
Warring Tribes Co-Exist on Wyoming Reservation
Historical signs commemorating the Sand Creek Massacre Trail are evident along the highways and byways crisscrossing the Wind River Reservation in central Wyoming.
Manoomin, Sacred Grain of the Chippewa
Wild rice played an important role in the daily lives of the Chippewa Indians, who depended on their "manoomin" for more than just food.
Sacajawea, Indian Woman of Mystery & Myth
From the spelling of her name to her aliases, the number of husbands she had, and the cause, location and timing of her death -- her life remains a mystery.
Indian Gaming
Congress allowed Native American gaming in 1988 and it continues to be a key source of revenue for many federally recognized tribes.
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.
The Feast of the Dead
Before contact and into the seventeenth century, Native Americans had a number of fascinating customs of great importance. One of these was the Feast of the Dead.
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.
Nanye-Hi Beloved Cherokee
Smallpox took the lives of almost one-half of the Cherokee people. During this period, Nanye-hi, or Nancy Ward, was born. Her later courage earned her the title, Ghighau.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
After Four Hundred Years, an Apology to Natives
Descendants of the original Dutch settlers met with the representatives of the Lenne Lenape Indians in Lower Manhattan to offer apologies on Friday Nov 27, 2009.
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.
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.
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.
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.