Native Americans

YoungandoldalikesuccumbtotheallureofNativeAmericans,andthemultipleandcomplexaspectsoftheircultures—fromfolkloretohuntingskillstototempolestoclothing.Sadly,thefullstoryoftheNativeAmericanpeopleswillnevertrulybeknown.ManyvitalfactshavebeenlostinthemistsoftimeasthenumeroustribesthatroamedNorthAmericabecameextinctthroughdiseaseorwarfarewiththearrivalofEuropeanexplorers,settlers,andmissionaries.FromthePacificNorthwesttotheCentralPlainstotheGulfCoastandtheAppalachianMountains,theNativeAmericansdevelopedawidevarietyoflifestylesdictatedbytheenvironmenttheyinhabited.Somewerehuntergatherers,otherswerenomads,andstillotherswerefarmersandtraders.Sometribeswerenotoriouslywarlike,whereasotherswerefriendlyandcooperativewithbothEuropeansandotherNativeAmericanpeoples.ProbablythebiggestadvancementintheNativeAmericanculturewasbroughtaboutbythearrivalofthehorse.Nolongerabystanderonthesidelines,theIndianhunterscouldmoveswiftlythroughtheherdsofbuffalotomaketheirkills.Sadly,theNativeAmericansoftodayarelargelyrelegatedtoreservationswherelivingconditionscanbequiteharsh.Withoutadoubt,theheritageofNorthAmericahasbeenvaluablyenrichedbytheproudandbraveNativeAmericanpeopleswhomadetheirhomeonthecontinentforthousandsofyearsbeforeEuropeansarrived.