Introduction:
Native Americans have one of the oldest and most varied histories of any nation in the world. The Indigenous tribes of North and South America go back thousands of years before Europeans made contact with the continent, and since that time, Native Americans have made an indelible mark on not just America and its people, but the entire world. There’s lots to learn about this important part of American history, so here’s a list of 15 facts about Native Americans that will surely surprise and educate you.
Fact 1: The Comanche were experts at horsemanship, and were sometimes referred to as “the Lords of the Plains”
The Comanche were known as some of the best equestrians in the world. When they first encountered horses brought to the continent by Spanish explorers, they quickly embraced and adapted the animals into their way of life. They made the horses an integral part of their culture, adapting their war tactics to involve their new allies while relying on them for transportation and trading. They became so skilled in their use of horses that they were known as “the Lords of the Plains”.
Fact 2: Navajo tribal members were essential to WWII U.S Military operations
During WWII, over 400 members of the Navajo tribe joined the military forces of the United States. During the war, they served in communications as code talkers, a role that utilised the native language of the Navajo nation to develop a code that proved to be unbreakable to the enemy. This code was used to great success, and their skills and bravery earned them all Presidential Honor of Recognition in 1982.
Fact 3: Native Americans were essential contributors to many aspects of what would become the United States.
Native Americans, including the Iroquois in the Northeast, helped form many aspects of what would become the United States. As a result, the value placed on diplomatic negotiation, individual freedom, and the protection of natural resources are just a few examples of the influence that Native Americans have had on our society.
Fact 4: Garrinbon mode of transportation was a type of riverboat used by some Native American tribes
The Garrinbon was a large riverboat for trade and transportation used by some Native American tribes along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers during the 1700s and 1800s. These boats were constructed from large sections of tree trunks and had platforms and netting along the sides. People and goods were loaded onto the Garrinbon to make long river trips.
Fact 5: Some Native American tribes had their own written systems and even their own constitutions
In what is now the United States, a number of Native American tribes developed their own written languages and systems of laws. The Cherokee nation developed an alphabet and created their own written language, and even the Iroquois developed their own written constitution before the Europeans made contact with the continent.
Fact 6: Aztec culture produced some of the world’s earliest written musical scores
The Aztecs of Mexico created the world’s earliest known written musical scores, predating even those of Europe by hundreds of years. While European musical scores required an instrument to interpret them, the Aztecs developed their scores around a system of symbols and diagrams to represent song and voice.
Fact 7: The African-Native American culture had a profound influence on colonial culture
The rise of African-Native American culture in the Mid-Atlantic colonies had a huge influence on European and American culture. African-Native American culture blended the craftsmanship of the Native American peoples, the cuisine of Africa, the music of Europe, and the languages of both, helping to create a hybrid cultural identity in the colonies that still has an influence today.
Fact 8: Navajo blankets were extremely influential to modern textile design
The Navajo people developed a unique form of weaving during the 19th century, creating textiles that used a complex pattern of colors and pictorial images to tell stories. Not only were these blankets beautiful works of art, they also had a more practical purpose as they were used as trading goods and as sleeping covers. Modern textile design has been strongly influenced by the Navajo people’s skillful weaving.
Fact 9: Native Americans developed a number of sports and games that are still played today
Native Americans developed a number of different sports and games that are still played today. Warlike sports like lacrosse were played competitively between tribes, as well as children’s sports like shinny and double-ball. Even gambling games like poker, blackjack, craps, and keno have been attributed to Native American origins.
Fact 10: Some Native American tribes practiced deep-sea fishing
The Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest coast developed a variety of methods for deep-sea fishing. While some used their hands to pluck fish out of the ocean, some of the larger tribes developed techniques involving the use of nets and harpoons to catch large schools of fish.
Fact 11: Native Americans celebrated their culture and spirituality with organized dances
Native Americans celebrated their culture and spirituality through the observance of ritualized dances. These dances were held for a variety of reasons, including shamanistic healings and betrothal ceremonies, as well as celebratory events like the Green Corn ceremony.
Fact 12: Native Americans were some of the first people in the world to use bows and arrows
The Native American people are credited as some of the first people to use the bow and arrow. This weapon was used for hunting, fishing, and warfare, and the Native American tribes developed a variety of techniques for using the bow and arrow effectively.
Fact 13: Early Native American communities were some of the first to practice gender equality
Many Native American tribes practiced gender equality in their communities. Symbolic roles such as those of leaders and healers were carried out by men and women alike, with women even serving as warriors in some tribes.
Fact 14: Native Americans were some of the first people to farm crops in the New World
The Native American people are credited as some of the first people to establish farming settlements in the New World. They were skilled farmers and developed complex techniques for cultivating crops in what was often inhospitable terrain.
Fact 15: Native Americans left behind a great artistic legacy, Graham’s Cave in Nevada being one example
Native American tribes left behind a great artistic legacy, from the pottery of the Anasazi to the totem poles of the Northwest Coast tribes. One of the most striking examples is Graham’s Cave in Nevada, which is covered in a large assortment of petroglyphs and pictographs that have been attributed to the Fremont people.
Conclusion
Native Americans have a rich and varied history, with many triumphs and accomplishments over the past centuries. For many people, learning the stories of Native American culture is an integral part of understanding the history of what would become the United States. We hope that this list of 15 interesting facts about Native Americans has helped to shed a bit of light on this oft-overlooked part of our history.
