History of Native American Indians
| Considered an integral part of US culture, Native American Indians today are diminishing in numbers. They were a content lot, who lived and ate well, and had clearly etched out roles for men and women. While the men hunted or served as warriors and defenders, Native American Indian women looked after home and hearth. |
Art and crafts like weaving baskets and making blankets were also an important part of their lives. Each tribe was known for a particular kind of handiwork. The food that was eaten was natural, like nuts, berries, beans and corn. Buffaloes, deer and birds were hunted for food. Fish too formed an important part of their diet.
Life started getting harder for Native American Indians during the late 1800s and 1900s, when they had to fight hard to protect their land. Different former presidents of the United States were responsible for passing laws that asked for the removal of Native American Indians. Many bloody battles followed, leading to legendary stories the ‘Trail of Tears’, which was about the relocation and movement of some tribes. Many Native American Indians then converted to Christianity and started dressing in European styles.
Currently there are roughly 560 Native American tribes that are recognized federally. Their condition is not quite well, since a lot of them are plagued with issues like poverty, heart ailments and alcohol related problems.
Thankfully, even today there is considerable interest among people to know about the history of Native American Indians, as well as the role they played in shaping the future of the US.
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