Indians 101
The Fur Trade 200 Years Ago (1818)
During the first part of the nineteenth century, the fur trade continued to be an important area in the contact between American Indians and Europeans. […]
Indians 101
A Brief Description of Caddo Religion
The Caddo were an agricultural tribe living in what is now Louisiana and Texas when the first European explorers entered the region. The Caddo were […]
American Indian Religions in 1917
During the first part of the twentieth century, the United States continued in its efforts to assimilate American Indians into an English-speaking, Christian European culture. […]
Some Apache Ceremonies
Traditionally, Apache religious ceremonies focused on curing, hunting and gathering rituals, puberty ceremonies, and obtaining personal power and protection. While spiritual power is available to […]
Northwest Coast Hats in the Portland Art Museum (Photo Diary)
The Northwest Coast culture area stretches along the Pacific coast between the Cascade Mountains and the ocean. It extends north of California to Alaska. This […]
Celilo Falls
For more than 10,000 years Indian people have lived adjacent to the Columbia River. The river provided them with countless salmon which they harvested with […]
Looking Glass, Nez Perce Chief
In 1877 the United States army under the leadership of America’s Christian general, O.O. Howard, went to war against the Nez Perce. The five autonomous […]
Animism and Shamanism Among New England Tribes
Generally, the traditional Native American spirituality among the tribes of New England is considered to be animistic: that is, the people saw themselves as a […]
James Welch, Novelist
In 1966, Richard Hugo was teaching a poetry class at the University of Montana. One of his students was James Welch who had been born […]
Pomo Indian Baskets (Photo Diary)
California Indian baskets are often considered the best in North America, and Pomo baskets are generally considered to be the best of the California baskets. […]