Many thanks to Ridgewalker for all his help and hard work on this list.
This is our attempt to introduce you to the Tribes of Native American Indians. Please note that virtually all of these entries are about living people...with a present and a future, as well as a past. It will include as many of the indigenous, aboriginal People as possible, including People from Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, because at some point in time, they were all connected. Because of the near impossibility of this task, it will be limited to Nations and Tribes and will, in most cases, not include the clans, or bands that comprise these Tribes. Note that the listings contain more than one name. The reasons for this are that, in many cases, the familiar names are not their real names, but are names given to them by Europeans and in many cases are, quite simply, mistakes. The alternate names are what they called themselves and often are also the names of their native languages. One group also may have more than one name, depending on their location. And finally, many of their familiar names were the names that other Tribes called them, sometimes insultingly, and Europeans just decided to use them. We have tried to limit the descriptions to the following information: Their real names and the meaning of their real names; their location(s); their current size (according to the 2000 U.S. Census); and significant events in their history. The 2000 US Census places the Native Northern American population of government recognized tribes at 4,119,301. Pre-European (mid 16th century) contact, this population is estimated to have been around 18 million. Generally accepted estimates of population levels (in the 17th century) are conservatively placed at between 9.8 million and 12.25 million for North America (Fagan 2000, Ramenovsky 1987, Williams 1992). Information was collected primarily from the following sources: Wikipedia, www.native-languages.org/languages.htm#alpha, The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2006, and www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762159.html. It is impossible to say all that needs to be said. That's where you come in. Any comments on your knowledge, or experience with any of these People would be great! If there is a Tribe that is not yet listed and you want to see them up there, feel free to make the suggestion and we'll bump them up. Thanks. Enjoy.
5 =
Fascinating
