Leprechaun

Apache Tribe

The Apache were one of the fiercest Native American tribes. No one is sure what the name Apache meant, but is believed to mean either “enemy” or “fighting men.”

Cherokee Nation

The Cherokee were one of the “Five Civilized Tribes,” located in the southeastern United States. By the 1600s, it is believed that the Cherokee controlled roughly 40,000 square miles in the region of the Appalachian Mountains.

Chickasaw Tribe

The Chickasaw are a relatively small native tribe. They are located in the Southeast United States, and were one of the Five Civilized Tribes. Before they were forced away from their homes during the 1830s, most Chickasaw lived in Mississippi.

Chief Joseph

Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce was one of the most noble leaders in Native American history. His given tribal name was Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, or Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain.

Famous Native Americans

Native Americans endured many wars and the loss of their land. Their history is marked by many tragedies. However, those tragedies and defeats have not kept them from making many achievements.

Glossary and Terms

Shaman—In native societies, a shaman (or medicine man) was believed to have magic powers to cure sickness.

Homes and Dwellings

There were many different Native American tribes in North America, and their homes were often very different. Some tribes had to build homes to withstand harsh winters.

Inuit Peoples

Most people know the Inuit as Eskimos. That name was given to the Inuit by a neighboring tribe many years ago. They refer to themselves as Inuit, which simply means “the people.”

Iroquois Tribe

The Iroquois were an alliance of five tribes in the northeastern United States. Those tribes were the Onandaga, the Oneida, the Mohawk, the Cayuga, and the Seneca.

Jim Thorpe

Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce was one of the most noble leaders in Native American history. His given tribal name was Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, or Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain.

Maria Tallchief

Maria Tallchief was one of the most accomplished dancers of the twentieth centuries. She was the first Native American woman to hold the rank of prima ballerina.

Native American Art

There were many Native American tribes across North America. They each had their own unique culture. Many tribes developed unique art forms, as well. Since tribes were often very different from each other, their art was often very different from each other.

Native American Clothing

The clothing of Native Americans varied widely. It depended on what resources were available to them, where they lived, and the time of year. Native Americans in very warm or tropical regions wore very little clothing.

Native American Entertainment

Native Americans enjoyed sports and games just like everyone else. They spent a lot of their time growing crops and hunting, but they enjoyed their free time. We know, from accounts of Europeans, that Native Americans played a variety of games.

Native American Food

Native Americans were resourceful and very good at using what was available to them. Food was no exception. Wherever a tribe was located, they learned what plants would grow there and how to hunt the animals in the area.

Native American Homes

There were many Native American tribes through North America. The homes they built were as varied as they were. Their homes often reflected the region in which they lived, their climate, and the nature of their life.

Native American Mythology

There were many Native American tribes in North America, and each one had various myths. Most tribes had myths that involved the creation of the world, as well as numerous heroes and deities.

Native American Religions

There were many different Native American tribes. They each had their own beliefs. Some tribes had beliefs in common, but there were also many differences.

Navajo Tribe

The Navajo Nation is spread across the states of Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. The Navajo Nation is the largest American Indian tribe, with almost three hundred thousand members.

Pueblo Tribe

The Pueblo people of the southwestern United States have an ancient history stretching back roughly 7,000 years. For many years, the ancient Puebloans lived in what is known as the Four Corners area.

Sacagawea

The Lewis and Clark expedition into the American west is one of the most legendary events in United States history. It might not have been so successful, however, if not for the help of a young Shoshone woman named Sacagawea

Sioux Nation

Many people mistakenly assume that the Sioux (pronounced “soo”) are one tribe. They are actually three tribal bands that speak three dialects—the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota.

Sitting Bull Facts

The man who was known as Sitting Bull was originally known as Tatanka Yotanka, which describes a bull sitting on its haunches. Even as a young man, Sitting Bull was recognized for his courage! He was seen as being as immoveable as a bull.

Tecumseh

Tecumseh is one of the most legendary warriors in Native American history. He was born into the Shawnee tribe in 1768, during a time of constant warfare in the Ohio Valley. Tecumseh’s father was killed when he was just a boy, and his mother migrated to Missouri.

The Seminoles

For centuries, native people known as the Muscogee lived in what would become the southeastern United States. They were incorrectly referred to as “Creeks” by English speakers.

Tribes and Regions

TNorth America is a very large continent. Terrain and climate varies widely across North America. Because of these differences, there was also a wide variety of native tribes.

Pocahontas

Pocahontas is one of the most famous women in Native American history. Even though all American children learn about Pocahontas in school, there are still parts of her life that are misunderstood.