Native American cultures in the United States have a rich and meaningful history. Several tribes are located throughout the United States that have lived in these areas for centuries. Each group has their own experience of belief systems, ceremonies, and dress. The differences between tribes are evident when examining the backgrounds of several recognized groups.
Tlingit
The Tlingit people are located in the southeast portion of Alaska, occupying a section of the northwestern United States and extending partially into Canada. The Tlingit people do not live on a reservation, but instead work and live in their area and intermingle with other peoples and communities, specifically other tribal groups in Alaska. Tlingits are traditionally animistic in religion, recognizing the souls of animals and the natural world, and utilizing Shamans as folk medicine healers. In the early 20th century, many Tlingits converted to Christianity, and today their religion is a blend of the two belief systems. Tlingits are well known as hunters, living in harmony with the natural world, yet relying on it for food. Traditional ceremonies are performed for celebrating births, marriages, death, or other special events, and include a potlatch: a feast where possessions and goods are given away to others to display wealth and gratitude. Traditional Tlingit dress includes ceremonial robes displaying images of animals and are lined or trimmed with fur.
- The Tlingit Language: A background and explanation of the ancestral language of the Tlingit people.
- Society: Tlingit: Information about the history, territory, and family division of the Tlingit people.
- Tlingit Customs: Ceremonies, clothing and traditions of the Tlingit people.
- The Tlingit of the Northwest: An explanation of the Tlingit partnership with nature and their relationship to the natural world.
- Tlingit Clothing: Basic information and photographs of Tlingit clothing.
Hopi
The Hopi people are located on a reservation found in the northeast portion of Arizona, and the history of the tribe dates back over 1,000 years. The Hopi are an agricultural people who have historically worked the land for its produce as their livelihood. Today, their reservation is also a site of tourism, providing a cultural center with educational purposes. The Hopi name is a shortened form of Hopituh Shi-nu-mu, which means “peaceful people.” The Hopi believe in a spiritual caretaker of the earth, and strive to live at peace with all, respecting and showing reverence for the things on earth.
The Hopi perform nine ceremonies per year for various purposes, such as harvest and giving thanks. Hopis also believe in Kachinas, which are spirits that bring life to the tribe, and are celebrated with new babies born into the group. During ceremonies, the Hopi wear traditional clothing of animal skins with feathers or flowers. This type of dress was honoring to the spirit they were recognizing.
- Hopi Religion: The ceremonies and beliefs that are specific to the Hopi people.
- The Hopi: The background of the society of the Hopi: their ceremonial calendar, teachings, and belief system.
- The Hopi Message: The text of an address by Thomas Banyacya, a Hopi leader, as an explanation of society and rituals that are important to the Hopi.
- Hopi Indians: A description of the clothing, shelter, food, and dress of the Hopi people.
- Hopi: A summary of the Hopi Indians, as well as their history and culture.
Lakota
The Lakota are a group of Sioux that are located in North and South Dakota. The Lakota tell their history through oral tradition, in a method that teaches others about their creator and how they came to be. Lakota say they came into the world trough the Black Hills, found in South Dakota. The Lakota people are known as hunter-gatherers, and they have traditionally hunted on horseback. The buffalo is an important symbol to the Lakota, and a source of food and clothing.
The Lakota perform various ceremonies, including the use of sweat lodges, which is an act of purifying the soul. Other forms of ceremony are the use of the Sacred Pipe for prayer, and the Sundance to honor their creator. The honor of the spirit world is also reflected in Lakota clothing, which was made from animal skins and elaborately decorated with beads and designs.
- The Lakota Ways: Descriptions and photographs of the people and families of the Lakota nation.
- The Lakota: A comprehensive explanation of the Lakota region, food, artifacts and other examples of the Lakota background.
- Lakota Ethnoastronomy: Information about the various ceremonies and beliefs that are sacred to the Lakota people.
- Lakota Spirituality: Guidelines about Lakota practices and a site devoted to the promotion of Lakota information.
- Brief History of the Lakota People: Historical background and tribal information of the Lakota people.
Iroquois
The Iroquois people are located in the Northeast portion of the United States and southern Canada. The Iroquois are also known as the People of the Longhouse, as they have traditionally lived in large, long structures that can fit up to 60 people. Another name for the Iroquois is the Six Nations, consisting of the Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscarora, Cayuga, Onondaga, and Seneca tribes. The traditional dress of the Iroquois is clothing made from deerskin with moccasins, which were decorated with beads or shells. Their beliefs are in a deity that is a father figure who controls the spirits of animals and nature, as well as the changing of the seasons. The ceremonies performed are inclusive to all six nations and involve feather dances, drum dances, and others that are considered sacred to their beliefs. These ceremonies involve dressing up as animals, playing drums and whistles, and dancing in order to give thanks or dedicate a harvest.
- Habits, Customs, Beliefs, and Traditions: Beliefs, ceremonies, and festivals of the Iroquois people.
- Iroquois: An explanation about Iroquois food, masks, and practices.
- Iroquois Indians: A basic description of the history of the Iroquois.
- Iroquois Concepts: An extensive account of the beliefs and practices of the Iroquois, as well as their relation to Europeans and nature.
- Iroquois Clothing: A brief description of the makeup of traditional Iroquois clothing.
The beliefs, customs, and practices of Native American peoples differ through various nations. Each people group has its own background that is specific to their history. Native American tribes have continued to evolve with changing times, while still preserving their cultural heritage.
Written by Michael S. Atwood