Historical Facts About Native Americans That Aren’t Taught In School
Native Americans are those who are indigenous to the United States and there are still 574 federally recognized tribes. They have been around for centuries and continue to cherish their many sacred practices and traditions.
From their clothing, language, and more, here are some unique things to know about Native Americans.
They Didn't Just Live In Teepees
While teepees are usually considered a symbol of Native American life, they may not be the most accurate. Some did live in teepees, but there were many other types of housing.
For example, the Native Americans of the Iroquois nation lived in longhouses, those in Mesa Verde lived in cliffs, and the Taos tribes lived in pueblos.
The U.S. Constitution Was Modeled After This
According to Good Housekeeping, historians believe that the United States Constitution was modeled after The Great Law of Peace.
This was the constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy that established a democracy between the tribes. It was made with the purpose of ending the major battles between the Iroquois nations. Benjamin Franklin studied it profusely before contributing to the U.S. Constitution.
Some Native Americans Worked With Buffalo Bill Cody
Buffalo Bill Cody was a soldier, hunter, and showman who created his own Wild West show. His shows would have themes of cowboys, the frontier, and Native Americans.
He partnered with several Native Americans and had them perform in his shows wearing feathered headdresses and riding painted horses. Acts in the show included sideshows, staged races, and feats of skill.
Many English Words Have Native American Origins
Those familiar with American history may remember that early English explorers interacted quite a lot with Native Americans. As a result, this caused them to pick up some new words.
Words such as chipmunk, pecan, skunk, chocolate, potato, and poncho are all derived from the Algonquian tribe. Algonquians are one of the most populous and widespread tribes in North America.
Inventions With Native American Inspiration
Since Native Americans were the first people to inhabit the United States, it makes sense that they would contribute to several useful inventions.
Things such as rubber, corn, kayaks, farming, and mouth wash all have Native American roots. Spinning top toys were observed as far back as the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Hundreds Of Navajo Members Served During World War II
The Navajo tribe is currently the largest tribe in North America with most members located in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Over 400 of them helped to serve the U.S. during World War II.
The Navajo men worked as code talkers and would relay important war messages in their native language. This was so the Japanese wouldn't understand.
Indigenous People Didn't Become Citizens Until The 1920s
One of the most historic moments for Indigenous people was the passing of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. This granted citizenship to all of the Indigenous people in the United States.
The main reason it was passed was to recognize the thousands of Native Americans who risked their lives serving in World War I.
Maria Tallchief Made History
Maria Tallchief came from the Osage Nation and had a dream of becoming a great ballerina. By the time she was 17, she moved to New York City to train professionally.
Tallchief was often told to change her last name, but refused. She ended up becoming the first American to join the Paris Opera Ballet and the Bolshaoi Theater in Moscow.
They Cooked Food Using Earthen Ovens
Native Americans had to come up with clever ways of cooking their traditional dishes. One of their most prominent inventions was earthen, or hornos ovens.
These were made from sun-dried mud bricks covered in a layer of mud. These ovens had the capacity to steam, bake, and roast any kind of food.
Pocahontas Had A Life-Changing Wedding
It's often easy to forget that Pocahontas was actually kidnapped during the Anglo-Powhatan war. She was converted to Christianity and imprisoned.
During this time she was introduced to John Rolfe and agreed to marry him to ease the tensions between the British and the Powhatan tribe. This ended up being the first recorded interracial marriage in history.
What Totem Poles Actually Represent
Totem poles are one of the most important pieces of art made by Native Americans, but not everyone knows their purpose.
Christian missionaries thought they were symbols of Native gods, but they actually represent family status. Animals that are special to the family, such as a grizzly bear or eagle, are usually carved in totem poles to memorialize their ancestors.
Women Showed Their Strength In Many Ways
Several Native American tribes, including Apache, would often have women carry woven water baskets on their heads. These baskets are called "ollas" and are usually elaborately decorated.
While they aren't used much anymore, they are one of the most sought after pieces of Native American art and can be auctioned for thousands of dollars.
Many Places Across The U.S. Are Named After Native Americans
Several cities and states across America have names rooted in Native American languages. The state of Alabama is derived from the Choctaw words Alba and Amo, which mean vegetation and gatherer.
Arkansas was named after the Quapaw Native Americans who lived downstream from the Algonquian people. The Algonquian used the word "Arkansas" for "south wind."
Horses Were Fairly New To Native Americans
When Native Americans are shown in film or television, they are oftentimes riding a horse. In reality, they lived without horses for over 10,000 years.
Horses were first introduced to Native Americans in the 17th century by the Spanish. Also, when they would ride, it would often be done bareback.
The Huge Significance Of Feathers
Oftentimes, Native Americans wear feathered headdresses as part of their clothing. Not only do these headdresses look beautiful, but they also have a deeper meaning behind them.
Native Americans consider feathers as part of their culture because they symbolize strength, freedom, power, and wisdom. Many of their feathers come from golden and bald eagles because they "soar close to heaven."
How The Sequoia Tree Got Its Name
Sequoia trees are some of the most majestic in the United States, but some may wonder how they got their name.
These large trees were named after the Cherokee leader Sequoyah (pictured). He is best known for creating a new alphabet for his people to use. This made reading and writing in the Cherokee language possible.
Native To America Since 12,000 B.C.
Historians found that Native Americans have lived in the United States since 12,000 B.C. after traveling a path from Asia to Alaska.
There is not one single nation, but instead groups of people with different cultures, languages, and more. There is also some evidence that Indigenous people have lived in South America as far back as 30,000 years ago.
Where The Mohawk Hairstyle Comes From
The Mohawk hairstyle can still be seen today, but some may not know the origins of this unique hairdo.
It is modeled after the Mohawk tribe where the men would keep one part of their head cleanly shaven and paint the other side a bright color. The name "Mohawk" translates to "man-eaters."
Many Native American Warriors Were Women
While the media often depicted only Native American men going to battle, that wasn't really the case. Many Native American warriors were actually women.
One of the most famous female warriors was Buffalo Calf Road Woman from the Northern Cheyenne tribe. She fought in both the Battle of Rosebud and the Battle of Little Bighorn.
Princess Leia's Hair Was Inspired By Hopi Women
Princess Leia from the Star Wars franchise is one of the most iconic characters in film history. Some may not know the inspiration behind her famous hairdo.
The women of the Hopi tribe often wore their hair in the "squash blossom" style. It became more popular during the 1920s after photos were taken of the women and shown around America.
