Knowra Native Americans in the United States Native Americans in the United States The Indigenous peoples of the present-day United States, encompassing distinct tribal nations, communities, and cultures with histories predating the country and continuing into the present.
Cherokee : An Indigenous people of the southeastern United States, with three federally recognized tribal governments today. The Cherokee illustrate distinct political nations and the effects of forced removal.
Tribal sovereignty : The inherent authority of Indigenous tribes to govern themselves, subject to limits imposed by federal law. It explains why tribes are political nations rather than merely cultural groups.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas : The diverse peoples whose societies developed across the Americas before and after European colonization. Native peoples in the United States are part of a wider continental history.
Indigenous languages of the Americas : The language families and individual languages spoken by Indigenous peoples across North, Central, and South America. The many Native languages in the United States carry distinct histories and knowledge.
Diné : An Indigenous people whose homeland spans parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and neighboring states. Diné language, government, and land relationships exemplify contemporary nationhood.
Tribal government : A governing institution through which a federally recognized tribe exercises political authority. Elected and traditional governments turn sovereignty into institutions and public decisions.
Pre-Columbian era : The history of the Americas before sustained European contact beginning in the late fifteenth century. It situates Native societies within millennia of history before the United States existed.
Native American languages of the United States : The Indigenous languages historically spoken or still spoken within the present-day United States. Language revitalization connects community continuity with education and cultural practice.
Lakota : A western branch of the Oceti Sakowin, the confederation commonly known as the Sioux. Lakota history highlights treaty-making, resistance, and enduring community life.
Treaty : A formal agreement between sovereign parties that establishes rights, obligations, or political relationships. Treaties remain central to land, resource, and government-to-government disputes.
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