Sealth was born about 1786. His father, Schweabe, was Suquamish and his mother, Scholitza, was Duwamish. As a young boy in 1792, he witnessed the arrival of the first Europeans: British Captain George Vancouver entered Puget Sound and traded with the Suquamish. Among the Salish-speaking tribes of the Northwest Coast, children often seek spiritual helpers … Continued
The Northwest Coast culture is located geographically along the Pacific Coast north of California and between the Cascade Mountains and the ocean. This area is the home to many Indian nations who traditionally based their economy on the use of sea coast and river ecological resources. The Haida are located in the northern portion of … Continued
Among the tribes of the western portion of the Northeastern Woodlands, tobacco was an important ceremonial and trade plant. Tobacco smoking is a symbolic way of enhancing the communication between individuals, between groups, and between the people and the supernatural. Tobacco smoke rose from the pipe for the use and comfort of the spirits. All … Continued
The Cahuilla homeland in California was bounded on the north by the San Bernardino Mountains; on the south by the northern Borrego Desert; on the east by the Colorado Desert; on the west by the present-day city of Riverside. The term Cahuilla is said to mean “masters” or “powerful ones.” As a tribal designation, Cahuilla … Continued
Two hundred years ago, in 1819, the United States was just beginning to embark on its expansionist policy known as Manifest Destiny. Under this policy, many non-Indian Americans felt that it was the divine destiny of the United States to expand and to spread American culture, language, and the Christian religion across the continent. In … Continued
The Pueblos are the village agriculturists of New Mexico and Northern Arizona. Zuni Pueblo is located in New Mexico and its name comes from Spanish corruption of the Keresan word Sunyi. The native name for the pueblo is A’shiwi which means “the flesh.” Fetishes are objects which can be made from many different materials which … Continued
Racism being based on ignorance, among other things, can and should be combated with education and historical facts. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-1882-Chicago-Tribune-newspapers-APACHE-INDIAN-WARS-Geronimo-ARIZONA-TERRITORY-/272542775244?hash=item3f74d0b7cc) Carter Camp gave me his permission (when he was alive) to repost his essay entitled “Mass Racial Taunting; America’s Weekend Sport” in the comments of “Stereotypical Elements (that) appear… in Athletic Contests” posted at Native American … Continued
During the nineteenth century, the United States aggressively pursued a policy of manifest destiny to spread out between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. At the beginning of the century, President Thomas Jefferson had felt that the future of the United States depended on acquisition of land for the rapidly growing population. Thus, the future … Continued
In 1919, American Indian religions were still outlawed. Federal Indian policy viewed American Indian religions as barriers to “civilizing” Indians and emphasized the importance of Christianity. Participation in traditional Indian ceremonies, such as the Sun Dance, the Sweat Lodge, and the Potlatch, was not only discouraged, but often criminalized. While the government recognized that structures, … Continued
Washita Massacre. “Garryowen” was the song Custer had his band play right before the exterminations began. www.google.com/… I had gotten into a discussion with a woman in Cheyenne about the Washita Massacre, and she told me how a couple men, who she guessed were historians, coordinated an event of reconciliation. It involved a reenactment with … Continued
