Native American people who first encountered the pilgrims at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts play a major role in the imagination of American people today. Contemporary celebrations of the Thanksgiving holiday focus on the idea that the “first Thanksgiving” was a friendly gathering of two disparate groups—or even neighbors—who shared a meal and lived harmoniously. In actuality, the assembly of these people had much more to do with political alliances, diplomacy, and an ef

Native American people who first encountered the pilgrims at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts play a major role in the imagination of American people today. Contemporary celebrations of the Thanksgiving holiday focus on the idea that the “first Thanksgiving” was a friendly gathering of two disparate groups—or even neighbors—who shared a meal and lived harmoniously. In actuality, the assembly of these people had much more to do with political alliances, diplomacy, and an ef

Native American people who first encountered the pilgrims at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts play a major role in the imagination of American people today. Contemporary celebrations of the Thanksgiving holiday focus on the idea that the “first Thanksgiving” was a friendly gathering of two disparate groups—or even neighbors—who shared a meal and lived harmoniously. In actuality, the assembly of these people had much more to do with political alliances, diplomacy, and an ef

The Haudenosaunee people of New York have a different concept of Thanksgiving than their non-Indigenous brethren. Members of the Haudenosaunee nations – Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora – believe in the Oneness of all things, and regularly acknowledge their interconnectedness with the earth, the animals, and the Creator. Every important gathering opens and closes with the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen (pronounced Oh-hon-don Gar-ee-wah-day-kwon), which transla

Genetic studies have revealed a DNA link between the Indigenous peoples of Australia and those of the Americas. It seems some 15,000 years ago, humans began crossing Beringia, a land bridge that once connected Eurasia to modern-day Alaska. Theories differ as to whether these early migrants arrived all at once or in waves. What is clear, however, is that Native Americans from Anchorage to the Amazon share distant ancestry with the Aboriginal people of Australia. In fact, these

By Aaren Herron The annals of music history are lined with legends of nearly boundless origins. From blues to rock, pop to folk, these six Native American musicians have left an indelible mark on music today. LINK WRAY John Lennon called him one of “the greatest unknowns of rock ‘n roll.” Iggy Pop, Jimmy Page, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young all cite him among their most important early influences. Born Frederick Lincoln Wray Jr. (May 2, 1929 – November 5, 2005) in Dunn, Nor

Playing games was more than just a pastime to ancient Native Americans. Some tribes played games during ceremonies to ensure a good harvest, others to expel evil spirits. Games were often played to resolve disputes, such as who had the rights to a certain territory. They also were used to educate children and to improve one's concentration, coordination and dexterity. Traditional games are still played today, often competitively for money or other prizes. Here are four Native

Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest are renowned for their totem poles. These colorful, handcrafted totems are much more than decorative art – they are used to tell traditional creation stories and share valuable life lessons. Totems also delineate the generations and social rank within each tribe. Families are represented by different animals and characters, which were given human traits to help people better identify with them. Raven is one such character that o

Indigenous Americans are among the most underrepresented group in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. A 2012 study by the National Science Foundation found that American Indians and Alaska Natives represent less than 1 percent of all scientists and engineers working in the U.S. Here are four inspirational Native Americans who bucked the trend and reached for the stars, playing major roles in space exploration. Mary Golda Ross (Cherokee) was the first Nati