Native American Indian Culture Research Paper

The topic of the Native American Indians has been shallowly dove into within most History classes at some point or another. Although, due to the set criteria that schools have to follow there is often not enough time to fully divulge into the subject. Indian culture differs immensely from that of the American culture. Also, their beliefs, in topics across the board, are far different from modern American beliefs. Native American Indians, a resilient group of individuals who have persevered through a myriad of trials and discrimination, have established themselves as a fundamental piece of America’s history. The term “Indian” originated with Christopher Columbus. Columbus thought he had landed in the East Indies, therefore naming the natives
Indians. After Europeans began migrating to the United States, there was a huge decline in the Indian population due to diseases they brought along with them. Many conflicts arose between the Indians and Europeans before the American Revolutionary War. President Benjamin Franklin acquired a great deal of knowledge about Democracy from the Iroquois Indians. Their last major battle, Battle of Wounded Knee, occurred in South Dakota in the year 1890. Within this battle, three hundred Sioux Indians were slaughtered (“Native American Indian Facts”). Customs of the Native American Indians were quite different from those American beliefs that all believe to be normal in today’s world.
For instance, it is common knowledge that the Indians lived and traveled in clans, but also each individual clan was sometimes named for an animal or totem. Totems were viewed as the clans’ supernatural ancestors or spiritual guardians. Clan membership was the most important alliance in a Sothern Indian’s life (Brown and Owens 45). Woman were incredibly respected within the tribe. Some pioneer white woman who had lived among the Indians refused to go home due to the high recognition Indian woman received (46). Beliefs concerning spirits were strong throughout the Indian population. Medicine men, individuals who dealt with the spirit world for the Indians believed they had direct contact with the spirits, would lead tribal members in elaborate ceremonies and rituals designed to keep them in good relation with the spirit world
(47). There is a multitude of Indian tribes, but one that most everyone has heard of is the Cheyenne. The Cheyenne were one of the most prominent of the Plains tribes. They called themselves “Tsitsistas”, which translates to “People alike”, “Our people”, and “People of a different speech.” They originally lived in the Great Lakes area in Minnesota, along the Missouri River. They resided in earth-covered log houses in permanent settlements. In the late 1600’s, they began a westward migration, most likely due to competition and conflict with other Indian tribes. As they migrated south, their lifestyle changed to that of nomadic hunters and gatherers. Sometime after 1832, the Cheyenne were forced to a reservation in Oklahoma. Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the seventh U.S Calvary in an attack on a band of peaceful which has become known as the Battle of Washita River. What is considered the greatest Native American victory was the Battle of Little Bighorn, occurring on June 25, 1876.
In this battle, the Cheyenne, as well as the Lakota Sioux and a small band of Arapaho, destroyed George Armstrong Custer and his troops near the Little Bighorn River. This is viewed as suck a huge feat due to the 262 U.S deaths with only around 60 Indian deaths. Both attacks led to what became known as the Colorado War of 1864-1865. The worst point within this battle was what is known as the Sand Creek Massacre occurring on November 29, 1864. After this brutal annihilation, the defensive battles against the white settlers and the U.S Army increased. The Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in 1858 brought the tension to a boiling point. Indians began attacking wagon trains, mining camps, and stagecoach
lines. Another tribe that most have heard the name of is the Chickasaw. The Chickasaw tribe is least know of the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole). This particular tribe is often described as “unconquered” or “Spartans of the lower Mississippi Valley.” They never fought a battle that they did not dominate in until they sided with the Confederates during the Civil War, but they were the last of the Confederate government to surrender to Union Forces. Early on, the Chickasaws were recognized for their bravery, independence, and warlike qualities. Disputes with neighboring tribes was an usual occurrence. Around the year 1751, the tribe combined with the Cherokee and drove the Shawnee from their territory on the Cumberland River. There was once an English trader by the name of James Adair who was a friend of the tribe and happen to write a manuscript describing the Chickasaw people as sophisticated. These people were constant enemies of the French, which led to them siding with the English in the French and Indian War, resulting in British domination of America.