Native Americans are the indigenous peoples of the United States. They include the Inuit, Aleut, and Yupik peoples of Alaska; the Haida, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Nuu-chah-nulth peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast; the Pueblo, Hopi, Zuni, and Acoma peoples of the Southwest; and the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, and Seminole peoples of the Southeast.
In popular culture they’re often portrayed as warriors or mystics—and sometimes environmental guardians—but there’s so much more to Native American history than that! You might be surprised by how rich and diverse their cultures are. And you’d be surprised at how far back their histories go: Native Americans have been in North America since before Europeans arrived in 1492!
Native Americans have contributed greatly to what we consider “American” today. They played a vital role in shaping our country’s history: from helping establish it as an independent nation to serving in government offices throughout history to creating art that has inspired generations of artists to come.
