MAJOR NATIVE AMERICAN NATIONS OF NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA

Interesting Perspective and Point

Machu Picchu- the capital city of the Incas. If you ever get the chance to visit Peru you must hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and experience the majestic Andes Mountains as the Incas had done.

Cliff-side dwelling-the way of the Pueblo and Mr. DeGaetano
Sitting Bull- A great Sioux Chief who decided it was time to fight. He had been pushed around too much by the American government. Was he justified in his actions?



Modern Inuit family inside their igloo home. What do you think they are thinking about the photographer who is taking their picture?
Aztec art depicting their ritual of human sacrificing. Here is an interesting question. When does culture cross the boundary into crime? Is it okay for a religious group in California to sacrifice the lives of its members as part of its religous customs? Or what about a tribe from New Zealand that practices canibalism?
Mayan pyramid in modern day Guatemala
The British had to rely on the various tribes of the Iroquois to survive the first few years of colonization. They traded with the Iroquois, learned farming practices from them, and were taken care of when times got tough by certain tribes of the Iroqouis Nation.
Many misperceptions of Native Americans exist. Popular Movies, comic books, toys, etc. have created stereotypes about Native Americans that continue to "teach" the public about how Native Americans lived.

There were thousands of separate tribes in the "New World" upon European contact( ca. 1500). It is a common myth that "indian" tribes are similar in many ways. However, the truth couldn't be more grossely misunderstood. Tribes throughout North and South America had their own identity represented through their various social, economic, and political organization. Languages, customs, religious beliefs, shelters, technological advancement, social structure, along with many other characteristics, varied greatly. Various tribes are better thought of as nations, much like we think of the different European nations around the same time. With that said, we can speak of the Iroquois Nation, the Sioux Nation, or Pueblo Nation.

Major Native American Nations of North and South America

Inuit Nation
Iroquois Nation
Inca Nation (Empire)
Sioux Nation
Aztec Nation (Empire)
Pueblo Nation
Maya Nation (Empire)*

*The Maya Nation will "die off" before European contact. However, they are regarded as the mother culture of many of the meso-american tribes therefore it is important to study them for their influence.

Because we are doing research projects for this unit I will let you do the work of a researcher and find information for yourselves. Remember to use credible sources such as the links I've given you to the right. However, I will give you a little nudge in the right direction http://nativeamericans.com/ is a great database of information on all the major Native American nations. You can find interesting video clips on http://www.history.com/ about all the nations. I just finished watching one in which they found a preserved Inca mummy high up in the Andes.

Also, remember that these tribes are huge and many will have their own official website. Finally, remember to not only research the tribe by its name but also, by using the names of their various different culural, political, etc. aspects. For example you might research the Aztecs by researching Cortes or Montezuma to find information about the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs upon arriving and colonizing modern day Mexico.