Do Native Americans celebrate Thanksgiving? For the majority of non-native Americans, Thanksgiving is a time to think about things you are grateful for, eat far too much turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, and relax in front of the TV to catch a football game. The stories of the history of...
If you look at the names of U.S. Army helicopters, you might notice something—Apache, Black Hawk, Chinook. Many of them bear Native American names. But unless you have a military background or you watch a lot of World War II documentaries, you may not know the reason behind these tribal...
While many of the traditions concerning face painting has been taught to me by Northern and Southern Tribal Elders, I prefer to maintain their privacy. Therefore, I have only used literary sources for references. For years I have heard different generations ask about the practice of face painting by men...
In many Native American tribes, a dream catcher is a handmade willow hoop woven to a web or literally, a net. They can include feathers and beads, and they're traditionally suspended on cradles as a form of armor and protection. Dream catchers are widely viewed as a symbol of oneness...
Learning with documentary movies and TV series captures the mind and helps you experience the truth about a particular time, place, or people in a more engaging way. Native American documentaries have shown glimpses of both historical events, individuals, and current issues that have to do with the first nation's...
What’s the biggest Native American tribe in the U.S. today? Well, Native Americans and Alaska Natives now account for more than 2 percent of the total U.S. population, and that number continues to grow each year. By the year 2060, the U.S. Census projects that the indigenous peoples population could...
Native American culture and heritage lines spectrums from valleys to dense cities, and is prevalent in all walks of life—many musicians, CEO’s, and actors all have ties to the nation’s first people, and it’s not uncommon for some to find out their extraordinary lineage later in life. Over 5...
The diversity of Native American religions could fill whole libraries with descriptions of belief, tales of lore, definitions, explanations, and insights into spiritual practices and ceremonies. To the outside world, however, far too much of the truth remains generalized and horribly steeped in stereotypes and misconceptions. Until around the middle...
One of the most common arts and crafts practiced by multiple Native American tribes included the decorative use of beads of various types. Generations before Europeans landed on the shores of the new world, Native American beadwork used primarily stone, shell, quills, and bone carved patiently with non-metal tools. As...
"Escape to Alcatraz," the new documentary series by Hulu, gives us an up-close look at the 19 months in which Native Americans occupied the abandoned prison on Alcatraz Island. And it's something everyone—Native or not—should check out. The story starts with the tumultuous summer of 1969. Reservations across the U.S....