Close window to return to list Abenaki (Wabenaki) Origin of name: From Algonquin "Wabenaki", meaning "People of the Dawn" or "Eastener". Called themselves: "Alnanbal" meaning "Men". Associated tribes: Although not recognized as a Nation, the Abenaki is a confederacy of tribes in the Northeast. Including "Abenaki", "Maliseet", "Micmac", "Passamaquaddy", "Pennacook", "Sokoki", "Penobscot" and several others, all considered part of it; more or less historically correct. (ref. Algonkin). The Abenaki were never a real organised nation, rather confederate tribes working together off and on when necessary. Geography: Lived in most of the Northern part of New England and coastal parts of Southern Canada. Because of English settlers, and wars, many were forced north of the border, were they still live. They have also absorbed people from several other Algonquin tribes that had to move north, including Narrangasetts and Nipmuc. From history: There is reason to believe that the Abenaki ancestors have lived in the same area for more than 10.000 years. Their first contact with Europeans came through fur trading with the French in the mid-1500. The tribal rivalry to trade brought on much hostility between former allies. In the early 1600 the French moved north and English traders took over the area. An episode from these years : "Samoset" was probably one of the first Indians to make contact with the Pilgrims in Plymouth. He was an Abnaki from south-east Maine. He was a sagamore of his tribe, and was visiting Massasoit, leader of the Wampanoag. He had learned some broken English from the English fishermen and traders that came to the coast of Maine. The Pilgrims described "Samoset": "He was a man free in speech, so far as he could express his mind, and of a seemly carriage . . He was a tall straight man, the hair of his head black, long behind, only short before, none on his face at all." Samoset returned shortly thereafter to his homeland in Maine. Individuals: Links: Abenaki history Abenaki home page

Close window to return to list Algonkin Origin of name: From Micmac, "Algomeakin", meaning "Place of spearing fish from canoe", or from Maliseet "A'llegonka" meaning Dancers, mistakenly believed to be a tribesname by the French. The Iroqouis called the "Aidirondac" (they eat trees). Associated name and tribes: Algonquin. Originally a single tribe that has given name to both a large group of tribes, and to one of the largest language groups in North America. Montagnais, Naskapi, Micmac, Abnaki, Mahican, and several others on the north east coast, even the Delaware, belongs to this language and cultural group. Other nations belonging to the Algonquin group, like "Fox", "Sauk" a.o. were situated on the west side of the great lakes, separated from the coast tribes by the Iroquois and Iroquoian nations. Also tribes like the the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Gros Ventres, Blackfoot, Cree, Ottawa, Pottowatomi and Ojibwe speak Algonquin languages. Geography: The original tribe lived north of Lake Ontario, and along the St. Lawrence River. From history: Historic enemies of the Iroquois. Joined by the French, Montagnais and Huron to fight the Mohawk on account of furhunting grounds. In the periode of the French / English war they joined with the Huron on the french side. Individuals: Links: Algonquin History

Close window to return to list Alsea History and geography: The Alsea were a small tribe of Yakonan Indians from western Oregon. Once numerous, by 1906 they were reduced to about a dozen individuals who took refuge among the Siletz tribe, which has since disappeared also. Their vestiges have been absorbed by a number of other Oregon tribes.

Close window to return to list Anishinabe Origin of name: Both the Ojibwe and the Ottawa called themselves this.

Close window to return to list Apache Origin of name: From the Zuni word "uh-pach-ee" / "a-pach-e" (apache), meaning "enemy", and quickly adopted by the Spanish and other Europeans. Naturally many tribes were labeled "Apache", not always appropriate. Called themselves: "Inde" or "Nde" , meaning "the people". Associated tribes and geography: The Apache people consisted of many tribes, some of the best known being: Jicarilla (Little Basket Weavers), Mescalero, Chiricahua (mountain), Tonto, Lipen, Western Apache (Coyoteros), Kiowa Apache (not Kiowa) and White Mountain Apaches. They have language and culture roots in common with the Navaho. Geography: The Apache may have been among the first to populate the central continent, and as others followed from the north they were forced to migrate south around year 1000. They lived (or roamed) in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico. Their history, including many great leaders may be found by way of links below. It is not to be shortened into few words. Today the Jicarilla, Mescalero and Western Apache live on reservations in New Mexico and Arizona, while the Chiricahua were removed, arrested or relocated in 1876-1886. Some live in Oklahoma and some with the Mescalero. From history: "The Apache do not like to talk about the past. This is part of our teachings". The Apache and Pueblos managed to maintain generally peaceful relations. But the arrival of the Spaniards changed everything. A source of friction was the activity of Spanish slave traders, who hunted down captives to serve as labor in the silver mines of Chihuahua in northern Mexico. The Apache, in turn, raided Spanish settlements to seize cattle, horses, firearms, and captives of their own. Their history, including many great leaders may be found by way of links below. It is not to be shortened into few words. Individuals: Among many noted leaders: Mangas Coloradas, Vitorio, Cochise, Geronimo, Nana Links: Short Apache History Apache history and much more. Apache Warriors, bios Jicarilla Apache tribe Ndee: The Children of Changing Woman, Apache today Origin of animals, Jicarilla lore Books by and about Apache

Close window to return to list Arapaho Origin of name: From Pawnee, "Tirapihhu", meaning "trader" Also called "Dogeaters" by some of their enemies. Called themselves: "Inuna-ina", meaning "Our People". Associated tribes: Closely related to the "Atsina". Historical in alliance with Cheyenne, and they still are. Geography: Lived in what is now Wyoming-Nebraska, but roamed large a area. Now in reservation in Wyoming. From history: Belong to the Algonquin language group. Arapaho and Atsine were probably one tribe in pre-european time, and split up while moving north. In the beginning of the 1800s the Arapaho split up in a northern and a southern group. The Arapaho were known as raiders on the plains, and feared by many. For a time they were allied with both the Comanche and Kiowa in the south, and Sioux and Cheyenne in the north. From around 1840 the Arapaho were at war with the Pawnee, Shoshone and Ute; which ended in 1867 when a treaty located S.Arapaho on a reserve i Oklahoma with the S.Cheyenne, and the N. Arapaho in Wyoming with the Shoshone (peace being part of the treaty). A major reason for going into reservation life was that the buffalo had almost totally disappeared, and by that their main resource gone. Individuals: Chief Little Raven Links: Wyoming Companion History of the Arapaho.

Close window to return to list Arikara Origin of name: Called themselves: Associated tribes: Historically allied with the Hidatsa and the Mandan. Since 1934 they have been a formal union in "Three Affiliated Tribes". Geography: Originally home in South (and central) Dakota. From history: Belong to the Caddoen language group. They were hunters and traders as far south as with Mexican indians. Leavenworth village was the last village built by the Arikaras in South Dakota and was visited by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804. The village also gained notoriety as the site of the first battle between the U.S. Army and the Indians in South Dakota, when it was attacked by a combined force of soldiers, fur traders, and Lakota Indians under the command of Col. Leavenworth in 1823. By the early 1830s the Arikara had abandoned the village and moved north into North Dakota, possibly caused by Sioux harassment. They found the Mandan villages abandoned (due to smallpox) and moved in. . Individuals: Links:

Close window to return to list Assiniboine Origin of name: From Ojibwe, meaning "People that cook with stones". Called themselves: Have been using Nakoda. Associated tribes: Geography: Native on the plains of Montana, North Dakota and Canada. From history: Belong to the Siouan langage group. Living in a widespread area on the plains they developed great ability to hunt and kill buffalo, long before the introduction of the horse. Today on reservation in Montana with the A'aninin. Individuals: Links: Assiniboine, Early Days

Close window to return to list Bannock Origin of name: Derieved from their own name. Called themselves: Bana'kwut Associated tribes: Related to the Paiute and Shoshone. Geography: Mainly in Idaho and western Wyoming. At times spreading out in Oregon, Utah a.o. From history: Of the Shoshonean language group. The Oregon Trail passed through their land and they had close contact with the white from around 1800. Today in reservation in Idaho, with the Shoshone. Individuals: Links: Shoshone Bannock History from 1878, and links

Close window to return to list Blackfeet (Blackfoot) Origin of name: English, bad translation of "Siksika" which was only one of the tribes in the area. Siksika meaning "Black Moccasin" a term which probably derived from the discoloration of moccasins with ashes. It is used both as name of the single tribe, and for the confederacy they belonged to. Called themselves: "Ni-kso-ko-wa" Associated tribes: The strong Blackfeet Confederacy with Blood (Kainah), Sisaka (Blackfeet), and Peigan (Poor Robe?), was considered the most powerful north of Missouri River. Geography: Blackfoot originated in the high plains of Canada, Blood in the foothills of the Rockies and Peigan south of them. From history: For each of the three geographical groups, the Blood, the Peigan, and the Northern Blackfoot, there was a head chief. His power was more formalized than that of the band leader. His principle was to call councils to discuss affairs of interest to the whole group. When the bands congregated during the summer, they formed individual camps which were separated by some natural boundary when available. When the Peigan, Blood, and Northern Blackfoot joined together for ceremonial purposes, each one of the three camped in a circle. Individuals: Links: Short Blackfeet History Blood and Piegan NB : Both seems "dead" presently, checking.

Page updated Mar. 17. 2oo2