The focus of this portion of our web guide is on the ethnic groups who identify with the peoples who inhabited North America before the arrival of European settlers in the 15th century.
Although many history books note that America was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, the reality is that the continent had been inhabited for at least 12,000 years before he made his first voyage.
For that matter, although Columbus made four transatlantic voyages between 1492 and 1504, there is no record of him ever setting foot on the North American continent. He did visit San Salvador, which he named, as well as Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica, but that was as close as he came.
It is likely that the Vikings were the first Europeans to come. They arrived in the 10th century. They seemingly established only small, temporary coastal settlements in what is now Canada, and probably visited the East Coast of what is now the United States in search of timber for construction and boat building, but they did not attempt to colonize the mainland of the continent.
The people who had inhabited the North American continent for thousands of years were not one people, as in the First Nations people or the American Indians. Rather, they were hundreds of groups of people, or tribes, with distinct ways of life, society, and religion, who had thrived for far longer than those seen in other parts of the world.
When European settlers arrived in America, the effect was disastrous for those who were already living there. The new arrivals brought diseases and modern technologies for which they were not equipped to deal with. The Europeans also brought a point of view that regarded the American Indians as uncivilized people who were unworthy of consideration.
The Ice Age that developed during the Pleistocene Epoch changed the landscape of the Earth. The regions that are now Alaska and Siberia weren't separated by the Bering Strait. They were connected by a large area of land known by modern historians as Beringia. This was an area of grassy plains in which people had settled, probably coming from Asia. The regions now known as Canada and the United States were covered in glaciers.
Around 16,000 BCE, a period of global warming caused the glaciers to retreat. The melting ice began to flood the area of Beringia, but the receding glaciers opened the lands to the south. As Beringia grew smaller, the people living there had to move west into Siberia, or east and south, into Canada and the United States.
Once the land bridge was severed, those who moved into the Americas were isolated from the rest of the world.
In less than a thousand years, they had spread down the Pacific West Coast of both North and South America as far as Chile. From there, they expanded inland and to the East Coast.
For thousands of years, these people developed their own distinct cultures, societies, and belief systems.
Unlike the civilizations that began to appear in Mesopotamia, those in the Americas were isolated. While they had contact with similar tribes, they lacked the constant contact with entirely different cultures that powered civilization in Mesopotamia.
While civilizations in the Near East and Europe transformed into recognizable modern societies between 3000 BCE and 1000 CE, the indigenous people of the Americas continued a semi-nomadic lifestyle, primarily that of hunter-gatherers. They did, however, develop distinct cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles, differing largely due to geographical locations.
While many people view the people who first settled the Americas as a homogenized group, known as American Indians, Native Americans, or First Nations people, they had developed several ethnic groupings, each with its own language and social systems, generally divided into tribes who shared a common language, scattered across the continent.
Difficulties in our understanding or appreciation for what life was like for those who we know now as American Indians, Native Americans, or First Nations peoples is that the tribes of North America did not develop a written language. Since history consists largely of written documentation, most of the histories of these people were written by Europeans.
While there are now written versions of several American Indian languages, these were developed after the continent was colonized by Europeans. Consequently, most of what we know of the pre-colonial period comes from oral traditions.
Many of the things that people associate as typifying American Indians, such as teepees and war bonnets, were exclusive to the Plains people, the Cheyenne, Comanche, Crow, Blackfeet, and Arapaho, and this lifestyle is believed to have developed only after they had changed their way of life after the arrival of European settlers. To that, we would have to add the fictionalization of Western novels written by Europeans.
Categories
American Indian Tribes
Before the European colonization of the Americas, the continent had been inhabited for more than twelve thousand years, and was home to hundreds of unique and distinct tribes.
Some of these tribes were completely annihilated by diseases brought by European settlers, while others were greatly decimated. Influenza, smallpox, measles, typhus fever, and other diseases for which the American Indians had no immunity, is believed to have killed as much as ninety percent of the population.
Others were eliminated by warfare, disputes with settlers over land or property, and starvation as their means of survival was removed, or when they were moved to lands that could not support them.
When the Europeans arrived in America, the indigenous population was diverse and consisted of hundreds of tribes, the largest being the Cherokee, Navajo, Iroquois, Sioux, and Apache.
These tribes were spread across different regions of the continent, each with unique cultures, languages, and traditions. The Cherokee were in parts of what is now Georgia, eastern Tennessee, northeastern Alabama, and western North and South Carolina, while the the Navajo were in the southwestern United States. The Iroquois Confederacy (also known as the Five Nations) lived in villages, some of which were as large as 2,000 people, in the area of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron. The Sioux (Lakota) were in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Apache were in the southwestern United States, although they were more nomadic and able to adapt to different environments.
As of 2010, the ten largest tribes in America were said to be the Cherokee, Navajo, Choctaw, Chippewa, Sioux, Apache, Blackfeet, Creek, Pueblo, and Iroquois. The largest in the United States were the Cherokee, Navajo, Choctaw, Sioux, Chippewa, Apache, Blackfeet, Iroquois, Lumbee, and Creek.
The difficulties in providing an accurate history of the period before the arrival of Europeans on the continent is made difficult due to the lack of a written record, but historians estimate that there were from seven to ten million people in the American continent north of the Rio Grande.
Organized into kinship groups and tribes, each had its own language, culture, and beliefs. While there were certainly conflicts, they were generally localized, and no one tribe became dominant over all the others.
Cherokee
The largest, then and now, were the Cherokee. The center of their region were the mountainous regions of the Carolinas, although they were also numerous in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.
While they shared a language and belief system, their society differed from that of European nations in that there was no single leader or even a tribal council that ruled over the entire group, at least not until the 18th century. Instead, each Cherokee village had its own council where issues were debated, but these decisions pertained only to the people in that village.
Conflicts were not over the acquisition of territory, but to avenge the death of a member of the tribe. In so doing, this might involve raids on neighboring tribes or even another Cherokee tribe. The goal, however, was to avenge a death, not to conquer or occupy territory.
To the Cherokee, along with many other American Indian tribes, the concept of owning land was alien. This attitude led to misunderstandings and difficulties with European settlers.
Among the Cherokee people, there were seven distinct clans: Wolf, Deer, Bird, Paint, and three others that are roughly translated as Long Hair, Blind Savannah, and Blue Holly. Each clan served as an extended family. Rather than living in separate villages, each village might include members of several clans. A Cherokee traveling from one village to another would likely find member of his or her own clan who would offer food and shelter.
With the arrival of the Europeans, the Cherokees proved adaptable. Many embraced Christianity, and a few became wealthy businessmen. They had a newspaper. They accepted the ideals of democracy and liberty, and the created a republic that echoed that of the United States itself. Nevertheless, or perhaps for those same reasons, they were viewed by a threat by the newly created United States government.
Forcefully relocated in the 1830s during what became known as the Trail of Tears, the Cherokee now reside mostly in Oklahoma, although the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are in North Carolina. They are mostly descendants of ancestors who avoided relocation, remaining in the area as US citizens, reorganizing as a tribe in the late 19th century.
The Navajo people prefer to be called the Din, which means "The People," are situated in the southwestern United States. Although second to the Cherokee in population today, they have the largest reservation in the country, covering land in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
Originally, the Navajos were hunter-gatherers, but they learned farming from the Pueblo peoples, adopting the "Three Sisters" of corn, beans, and squash. They also herded sheep and goats as a source of food and trade, and women began to spin and weave wool into blankets and clothing, which developed into a valued artistic expression.
Navajo life is rich in ceremony and ritual, including nine-day ceremonies for the treatment of mental and physical ills, as well as several less important ceremonies.
Choctaw
The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest in the United States. They are located primarily in Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Despite allying with the Americans in the American Revolutionary Warand the War of 1812, the Choctaw were forcefully removed from their lands in the early 1830s despite having never waged war against the United States. When the Choctaw mostly sided with the Confederate States during the American Civil War, tribal land holdings were broken up and tribal governments were dissolved, and the US Bureau of Indian Affairs appointed tribal chiefs for decades.
Since the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, the Choctaw people in three areas have reconstituted their governments and gained federal recognition.
Chippewa
The Chippewa, Ojibwe, Ojibwa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is now southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and the Northern Plains. Indigenous to the Subarctic and Northeastern Woodlands, the Chippewa are one of the largest American Indian tribes today. In Canada, they are the second-largest First Nations population, after the Cree.
The Ojibwe language is Anishinaabemowin, a branch of the Algonquian language family.
They are part of the Council of Three Fires, which includes the Odawa and Potawatomi, as well as the larger Anishinaabeg, which includes the Algonquin, Nipissing, and Oji-Cree people.
Sioux
Also known as the Oceti Sakowin, the Sioux include the Dakota and the Lakota peoples, groups of American Indian and First Nations peoples from the Great Plains region.
The ancestral Sioux inhabited the area around the source of the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. They moved west in 1559 due to warfare with the Iroquois, who were equipped with firearms provided by the French. This took them to the Great Plains Region.
Today, the larger populations of Sioux are found in South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Wyoming. In Canada, they are mostly in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
After being pushed beyond their tolerance levels, the Sioux are known for a sustained resistance to European-American land grabs, which included the battles that became known as "Custer's Last Stand" and the "Battle of Wounded Knee," the latter of which resulted in a major loss for the tribe.
Apache
The Apache are actually an amalgamation of several Southern Athabaskan-speaking American Indian peoples of the Southwest and the Southern Plains. Linguistically related to the Navajo, they migrated from Athabaskan homelands in northeastern Canada and Alaska to the Southwestern United States between 1000 and 1500 CE.
Apache bands include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreno, Salinero, Plains, and Western Apache (Arvaipa, Pinaleno, Coyotero, and Tonto).
Today, Apache tribes and reservations are headquartered in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. Each tribe is politically autonomous.
Following European colonization, the Apache became known as fierce warriors agains the invading Spanish and Mexican people for centuries, as well as during the 19th-century American Indian Wars.
Blackfeet
Officially known as the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana, the Blackfeet Nation is a federally recognized tribe of Siksikaitsitapi people, whose members belong primarily to the Piegan Blackfeet band of the larger Blackfoot Confederacy that spans the United States and Canada.
Its reservation is situated east of the Glacier National Park, and borders the Canadian province of Alberta, with Cut Bank Creek and Birch Creek forming part of its eastern and southern borders.
The Blackfeet settled in Montana in the 17th century, having previously inhabited a Woodlands area north and west of the Great Lakes. They were driven to the Northern Plains due to pressure by British traders at James Bay.
After acquiring firearms and horses, they became a powerful force that controlled a large area before being encroached upon by European-Americans and Canadians.
The Blackfeet have an oral history that spans 10,000 years speaking of a central sacred space, the Badger-Two Medicine area, which tradition holds is their site of creation and origin.
Creek
Also known as the Muscogee, Muscogee Creek, Mvskoke, and the Muscogee Creek Confederacy, the Creek are a group of related peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States, largely southern Tennessee, much of Alabama, western Georgia, and parts of northern Florida.
Much of their population was forcibly removed to a designated Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma during the early 1830s, as part of the Trail of Tears. A small group of the Muscogee Creek Confederacy remained in Alabama, and their descendants formed the federally recognized Poarch Band of Creek Indians, while another Muscogee group moved to Florida between 1767 and 1821, intermarrying with local tribes to form the Seminole, which emerged as a separate identity from the rest of the Muscogee Creek Confederacy, although most of them were included in the Trail of Tears.
The cullture of the Creek/Muscogee people evolved considerably after European colonization. Influenced by the Spanish, French, English, and European-Americans, they adopted farming methods, accepted European-Amnericans and African-Americans into their society, and developed a written language. They have, however, preserved a tribal identity through annual festivals, stickball games, and language classes.
Pueblo
Puebloans, or the Pueblo peoples, are native to the Southwestern United States. Sharing common agricultural and religious practices, Pueblo people speak languages from four different language families, and each Pueblo is divided culturally by kinship systems.
Decending from ancestral Puebloans, Pueblo peoples have inhabited the American Southwest for thousands of years. The term Anasazi is sometimes used to refer to the ancestral Pueblo people, although it is largely avoided today because the name was derived from the Navajo to mean "Ancient Ones" or "Ancient Enemy."
Known for their ancient pit houses dug into cliffs, some of which still exist, the Puebloans began to move away from this practice between 700 and 900 CE, in favor of connected rectangular homes arranged in apartment-like structures of adobe, often constructed at defensive sites, such as on ledges of massive rock, flat summits, or on steep mesas.
Today, the Pueblo people live predominantly in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.
Iroquois
Also known as Five Nations, Six Nations, or Haudenosaunee, the Iroquoian-speaking confederacy of American Indians and First Nations peoples are found in northeastern North America and Upstate New York.
Known as the Iroquois League by the French during colonial times, and later as the Iroquois Confederacy, the English referred to them as the Five Nations, which included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. After 1722, the Tuiscarora were accepted into the confederacy, forming the Six Nations.
The Iroquois were known for building longhouses, which were long structures made of wood and bark that provided shelter for several related families. Each longhouse could house several generations of an extended family, and could be easily lengthened to accommodate growth.
Lumbee
Taking its name from the Lumber River, which winds through Robeson County, the Lumbee are an American Indian people centered in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland, and Scotland counties in North Carolina.
The Lumbee tribe was recognized by the State of North Carolina in 1885, but, although the U.S. Congress passed the Lumbee Act of 1956, which recognized the Lumbees as being American Indians, they were denied the benefits of a federally recognized tribe.
Earlier, the tribe had petitioned for recognition as Cherokee Indians, but that was denied, in large part, because they had fully assimilated into early colonial life, and lived as individuals, as did any other citizen.
Several theories as to the ethnic origins of the Lumbees have included one advanced by the Ku Klux Klan that they were of mixed American Indian and African-American descent. Later theories included that they were descendants of England's "Lost Colony of Roanoke," who intermarried with "Croatan Indians," as well as that they were of Cherokee, Cheraw, Siouan, or Keyauwee descent.
Due to the lack of an obvious single ancestor tribe and conventional indigenous cultural markers, such as a unique language, the Lumbee people are often faced with doubts as to the sincerity and genuiness of their claims to American Indian status.
The Lumbees speak mainstream varieties of English, as well as a vernacular form known a Lumbee English, which is said to be not an American Indian language, but rather a form of American Indian English.
Given the historic relationships between European-Americans and American Indians, it is perhaps reasonable to consider that, while federal recognition brings various benefits to tribal members, a tribe is not necessarily illegitimate simply because the federal government does not recognize it.
There are many other American Indian tribes still in existence in North America, but these are the largest by population.
Recommended Resources
7th Generation / Native Voices
7th Generation specializes in publishing American Indian fiction and non-fiction titles for children and young adults. Native Voices Books and 7th Generation are imprints of Book Publishing Company, an independent press in business in Summertown, Tennessee, since 1974. All 7th Generation books are written by Native authors to ensure accuracy. Books may be browsed and ordered online. Its authors are featured, and resources for teachers and librarians are included.
https://nativevoicesbooks.com/
Since 1999, the website has served as a directory and informational resource on current and extinct American Indian people, tribes, and subjects throughout the United States and Canada. Tribes may be found alphabetically by name, state recognition, unrecognized tribes, confederacy, language, region, state, or treaties. Native American subjects include Native actors, artists, authors, culture and tribal customs, education and scholarships, famous chiefs, casinos, and Native American history.
https://www.aaanativearts.com/
Administration for Native Americans
Established in 1974 through the Native American Programs Act, the ANA is a program within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to promote the goal of self-sufficiency and cultural preservation by providing social and economic development opportunities through financial assistance, training, and technical assistance to eligible tribes and American Indian communities. Applicant training and technical assistance, grants, and reports are included.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ana
The AFN is a statewide Native organization with a membership of well over a hundred and fifty villages, both federally recognized tribes and village corporations, thirteen regional Native corporations, and twelve regional non-profit and tribal consortiums that contract and run federal and state programs. Member organizations are identified, along with their board members and staff, convention schedules, educational programs, job listings, and other resources.
https://nativefederation.org/
I believe this was created by an individual associated with the American Indian Chamber of Commerce and intended as a resource for those interested in American Indians. It includes a brief history of Native Americans in general, as well as news pertaining to American Indians, histories of several American Indian tribes, articles on specific historical events affecting American Indians, an introduction to Native culture, Native American landmarks, and several book recommendations.
https://americanindiancoc.org/
American Indian & Alaska Native Living
A lifestyle publication, American Indian & Alaska Native Living encourages healthy living through the concepts of choice, rest, environment, activity, trust, interpersonal relationships, outlook, and nutrition (CREATION) Life. Published bi-annually by the Oklahoma Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the magazine is published in collaboration with the National Congress of American Indians, and the National Indian Health Board. American Living Radio is a one-hour weekly talk show.
https://www.aianl.org/
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association
Founded in 1998, AIANTA was established by tribes for tribes to address the inequities in the tourism system. The organization serves as a voice for the Native American hospitality sector, provides technical assistance, training, research, and publications to North American Indigenous communities, facilitates communications between Native communities, federal agencies, non-profits, and elected officials, and highlights the importance and generates awareness of authentic Native destinations.
https://www.aianta.org/
American Indian Cancer Foundation
The AICAF is a national non-profit foundation dedicated to addressing incidences of cancer in Native communities, with an emphasis on prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivor support. The organization is Native-governed, and its approach is culturally sensitive and community-driven. The AICAF collaborates with tribal and urban community members, healthcare providers, and leaders. Its programs, projects, research, and evaluations are included.
https://americanindiancancer.org/
American Indian Center of Chicago
Billing itself as the oldest urban American Indian center in the United States, AIC was formed in 1953. The non-profit cultural organization provides social services, youth and senior programs, cultural learning events and resources, and meeting opportunities for Native American peoples. Its classes, workshops, and other events are featured, with schedules and contacts, career, volunteer, and membership opportunities are highlighted, and contacts are included.
http://aicchicago.org/
American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma
The AICCO was founded in the early 1990s through a grant to the Indian Health Care Resource Center in Tulsa, and incorporated with a focus on providing a format for American Indian entrepreneurs to promote their businesses, for corporations to connect with American Indian businesses, to act as a liaison on tribal economic development issues, and to offer training and networking for American Indian business owners. Membership levels and policies are stated.
https://aiccok.org/
Founded in 1989, the non-profit organization provides support for Native American students through scholarships and funding toward higher education. The Fund also helps to support tribal colleges and universities located on or near Indian reservations through capital grants and programs, such as cultural and language preservation, early childhood education, and fellowships for faculty development. Its team, advocacy efforts, services, programs, events, job opportunities, and contacts are noted.
https://collegefund.org/
American Indian Community House
The AICH is a not-for-profit organization serving the needs of American Indians in New York City. Founded in 1969 by Native American volunteers as a community-based organization, it is charged with improving the status of Native Americans and fostering intercultural understanding. A contact form is available for requests for speakers, presenters, performers, and other inquiries. Upcoming events, notices, locations, social media, and job openings are posted.
https://aich.org/
American Indian Digital History Project
Undertaken as a Digital History Cooperative by the University of Kansas, the American Indian Digital History Project seeks to recover and preserve rare indigenous newspapers, photographs, and archival material from across North America. Publications include, but are not limited to, the Indigenous Nations Studies Journal, the American Indian Journal, the Indian Historian, American Indian Magazine, and Indian Voice. Documents from the Santee Normal Training School and treaties are included.
https://www.aidhp.com/
Maintained by a breeder of American Indian dogs for over fifty years, and founder of the original copyrighted Registry for the True American Indian Dogs, the site lists other memberships and citations, as well as information about the breed. Available pups may be listed here, along with a warning that wolf/dog breeders may be selling their hybrid dogs as American Indian Dogs. Several informational articles are featured on the site, and contacts are provided.
http://indiandogs.com/
American Indian Film Institute
First held in 1975, the American Indian Film Festival is an annual, non-profit film festival held in San Francisco, California. Claiming to be the world's oldest venue dedicated solely to Native American and First Nations films, paving the way for the formation of the American Indian Film Institute in 1979. The AIFI, represented here, is a non-profit media arts organization charged with fostering an understanding of the culture, traditions, and issues of contemporary Native Americans.
https://www.aifisf.com/
American Indian Higher Education Consortium
The AIHEC was established in 1972 to represent the interests of newly developed tribal colleges controlled and operated by American Indian tribal nations. The organization established the American Indian College Fund in 1989. The site features the AIHEC's history, vision, mission, meetings, and events, and introduces its staff and team. Tribal colleges and universities are featured on the site, and its membership benefits and policies are included, along with its initiatives and programs.
https://www.aihec.org/
American Indian Library Association
Formed in 1979, the AILA is an affiliate of the American Library Association, as well as a membership action group that focuses on the library-related needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Included are information and links to tribal libraries and tribal library resources throughout the United States, a youth literature awards program, school library resources, grant and scholarship availability and information, affiliates, and membership levels and guidelines.
https://ailanet.org/
Published by the National Museum of the American Indian, the quarterly magazine focuses on topics pertaining to Native Americans. Members of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian will receive the quarterly print edition, while the museum offers free access to the digital edition of the magazine as well as digitalized archives, which may be accessed through the website's navigation menu. Advertising opportunities may also be available.
https://www.americanindianmagazine.org/
AIM is an American Indian grassroots movement that was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1968. Originally focused on issues of poverty, discrimination, and police brutality against American Indians in urban areas, it widened its focus from urban issues to several Indigenous Tribal issues, including treaty rights, high unemployment among Native Americans, the preservation of Indigenous cultures, and the lack of American Indian subjects in education.
http://www.aimovement.org/
American Indian Science and Engineering Society
AISES is a national non-profit organization charged with increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. It provides support through programs, scholarships, and events for students and professionals in STEM disciplines. The site provides membership information, including member benefits and categories, partnership and sponsorship opportunities, and a calendar of events.
https://www.aises.org/
American Indians in Children's Literature
Established in 2006 by Dr. Debbie Reese of Nambé Pueblo, AICL provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books. Dr. Jean Mendoza joined AICL as co-editor in 2016. The site's primary function is to help readers understand who Native people are, which can help them understand why Native people object to being misrepresented, and to publish analyses of children's books, lesson plans, films, and other items related to the topic of American Indians.
https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/
American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions
The AIT-SCM is a non-profit organization formed in 1994 by the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, descendants of the aboriginal people who populated South Texas and Northeast Mexico, and charged with working for the preservation of the cultures and traditions of the Native American tribes and other indigenous people who resided in the Spanish colonial missions. Its staff, founders, and partners are acknowledged, and open positions are featured. Its programs, videos, and photographs are included.
https://aitscm.org/
American Indigenous Business Leaders
The AIBL is a non-profit organization interested in empowering Indigenous students in the United States through education and leadership development opportunities. The organization focuses on equipping young Indigenous business leaders to lead enterprises within their communities through leadership development support, scholarships, paid internships, and mentoring. AIBL statistics may be downloaded in PDF format, staff contacts are provided, and conference schedules are noted on the site.
https://www.aibl.org/
Hosted by ProBoards, the website focuses on various American Indian tribes, with topics sorted into categories for Teton/Lakota, other Tribes of the Great Plains, Apache/Inde, and Tribes of other areas, as well as genealogy requests, historical events, identification of unknown photographs, shadow catchers, Indian culture, Indian languages in historical reference, books and authors, Indian news, general discussion, and recommended links. Membership is required for participation.
https://amertribes.proboards.com/
Americans for Indian Opportunity
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the AIO advances the cultural, political, and economic rights of Indigenous peoples in the United States and around the world. Founded by LaDonna Harris, a Comanche, and some of her fellow Native American activists in 1970, the AIO is a non-profit organization that draws on Indigenous philosophies to foster value-based leadership to probe contemporary issues relevant to the Native community. Its Ambassadors programs and partners are introduced.
https://aio.org/
Representing Amerian Indian Artists, (AMERINDA), a New York City organization established in 1987 to empower Native Americans and to foster intercultural understanding and appreciation for American Indian culture through its programs and services, particularly for tribally-enrolled Native artists working and presenting in NYC. Its work includes the visual arts, theater, and film. AMERINDA hosts a web-based roster of North American Indian traditional and contemporary artists in the NYC region.
https://amerinda.org/
Specializing in the buying and selling of Indian arrowheads and other artifacts, the website includes a FAQ discussing the legality of buying and selling Native American artifacts, how to sell a collection and other questions. Arrowheads buys single pieces or entire collections, including arrowheads, spear points, bannerstones, birdstones, gorgets, pendants, axes, celts, discoidals, pipes and pottery, and other artifacts. Information about appraisals is also available.
https://arrowheads.com/
Modeled on the United Nations General Assembly, AFN emerged in 1982 from the National Indian Brotherhood, which dissolved in the late 1970s, and is an assembly of Canadian First Nations represented by their chiefs. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the organization primarily represented status Indians, which are those registered under the Indian Act. Its leadership, resolutions, events, advocacy issues, projects, and contacts are posted on the site.
https://afn.ca/
Association for the Study of American Indian Literatures
ASAIL is a professional academic organization formed to promote the study, criticism, and research of American Indian written and oral literary traditions. Its website provides access to multiple resources and archives, including sample syllabi, guides to Native American and Indigenous Studies programs, and other issues in American Indian literature. The SAIL Review includes book reviews and association news. Membership information and levels are included.
https://www.asail.org/
Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums
ATALM is focused on serving the needs of cultural organizations worldwide but with an emphasis on indigenous peoples in the United States. Based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, ATALM is affiliated with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and maintains ties with several state, regional, and tribal libraries, museums, and cultural associations. Conference announcements and schedules, current and past programs, networks, affiliated organizations, and preferred vendors.
https://www.atalm.org/
Association on American Indian Affairs
Originally known as the American Indian Defense Association, the AAIA is a non-profit human rights charity headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. Founded in 1922, it is dedicated to protecting the rights of Native Americans. Its work involves Indian child welfare, Native youth justice, scholarships, and youth summer camps, as well as cultural sovereignty and repatriation issues, ending harmful mascots, and violence against Native people. Contacts and an event calendar are included.
https://www.indian-affairs.org/
The Athabasca Tribal Council provides essential services to five First Nations communities within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, including the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, the Fort McMurray First Nation, the First McKay First Nation, and the Mikisew Cree First Nation. Its organizational structure, communities, programs, services, and a calendar of events are set forth. Job training and career opportunities are included.
https://www.atcfn.ca/
Authentic Tribal Art Dealers Association
The ATADA is an association of tribal art dealers, auction houses, museums, and collectors dedicated to establishing and maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity. Through its online membership directory, visitors can find an ATADA member who specializes in what they are looking for. Searches may be made by name, location, or type of artwork desired. Also included is a marketplace highlighting artwork available for sale, as well as membership information and contacts.
https://atada.org/
Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition
Bears Ears is a historic consortium of sovereign tribal nations united in the effort to conserve the Bears Ears cultural landscape, a 1.9 million acre parcel of land in southeastern Utah. Participating tribes include the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Zuni Tribe. Tribal resolutions, proposals, statements of archaeological significance, a timeline, and contacts are published.
https://www.bearsearscoalition.org/
Big Fire Law & Policy Group, LLP
The 100% Native American-owned law firm includes members from several American Indian tribes. The firm serves tribal nations throughout the United States, representing tribal business enterprises, and assisting various tribal organizations, such as tribal colleges, tribal schools, public schools on tribal lands, housing authorities, tribal health care organizations, and non-profit corporations. Its practices, career opportunities, leadership, and contacts are published on the site.
https://bigfirelaw.com/
The United States federal agency is the part of the Department of the Interior responsible for implementing federal laws and policies related to Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and managing reservations held in trust by the U.S. federal government for Indigenous tribes. The BIE also implements federal Indian education programs, as well as the Office of Justice Services to uphold Tribal sovereignty and provide for the safety of Indian communities.
https://www.bia.gov/
Headquartered in Washington, DC, and formerly known as the Office of Indian Education Programs, the BIE is a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior under the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. The BIE is responsible for implementing federal education laws and providing support for schools and educators through professional development, special education, and supplemental education programs, managing the performance data and statistics for BIE-funded schools.
https://www.bie.edu/
California Consortium for Urban Indian Health
Formed in 2006, CCUIH is a non-profit statewide alliance of urban Indian Health Programs and substance abuse treatment facilities, or UIHPs. By blending the leadership and experience of consortium members with shared resource development, applied research, and educational and policy advocacy efforts, CCUIH offers strategies to support the health and wellness needs of the urban Indian community in California. Its research, news, programs, and contacts are posted.
https://ccuih.org/
California Native Vote Project
CNVP is a statewide effort to engage Native American communities across the state to build political power through an integrated voter engagement strategy. Launched prior to the 2016 presidential election, it has since expanded into integrated voter engagement, census advocacy, and outreach. Its mission, partnerships, research, youth organizing, voter registration, community organizing, and action issues are set forth, along with upcoming events, job opportunities, and contacts.
https://canativevote.org/
California Tribal Chairpersons' Association
The State of California is home to more than 700,000 American Indians in more than a hundred federally recognized American Indian tribes. The CTCA serves as a tribal resource for member tribes. Its mission and executive board are introduced, along with the board members from Northern, Central, and Southern California, with biographies for each. Photos from past conferences, dinners, and events are provided, and an address, email address, and an online contact form are provided.
https://catribalchairs.org/
California Tribal Families Coalition
The mission of the California Tribal Families Coalition is to promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of tribal children and families, which are inherent tribal governmental functions and are at the core of tribal sovereignty and tribal governance. Its board of directors, staff members, and member tribes are noted, along with information about becoming a member tribe, including a sample resolution. CTFC reports, fact sheets, and tribal contact information are provided.
https://caltribalfamilies.org/
Carlisle Indian School Project
CISP is a non-profit organization formed to create a collaborative, sustainable legacy to honor the achievements and contributions of students who attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the flagship Indian boarding school, operating from 1879 to 1918, becoming the model for Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding schools in other states and territories. Its past, present, and future plans are discussed, and stories of former students are published.
https://carlisleindianschoolproject.com/
Centre for First Nations Governance
The CFNG is a non-profit organization that assists First Nations governments in transitioning from the Indian Act to inherent right governance. The organization consults on topics such as restoring their nations, reclaiming lands, healing communities, and establishing effective governance structures within First Nations. Its mission, vision, and services are detailed on the site, which includes its team, partners, workshops, resources, information, and contacts.
https://fngovernance.org/
Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative
CAICC is a network of seventeen Native American organizations and programs that joined together to collectively work on improving conditions for Native Americans in the Chicago area. Its goals are to establish a common vision for the Chicago Native American community, develop a comprehensive service model for the urban setting, establish collaborative relationships internally and externally, and promote understanding and respect for Native culture and communities.
https://chicagoaicc.com/
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
The CRITFC coordinates management policy and provides fisheries services for the Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce tribes. Science and restoration, management and enforcement, education and careers, tribes, and culture are among the services and information provided on the CRITFC website. Also covered are treaty fisheries and fishing, access sites, and river housing within its areas, and news reports relating to its projects and achievements are included.
https://critfc.org/
Council for Tribal Employment Rights
The CTER is a community-based, Indian-owned, non-profit organization that represents the interests of over three hundred Tribal and Alaska Native villages covered by employment rights ordinances. Founded in 1977, the CTER is governed by a 16-member board of directors, which consists of Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) representatives from eight regions of the nation. Membership information, events, photos, videos, and downloadable resources are available on the site.
https://cter-tero.org/
Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments
Based in the Yukon Flats region of Alaska, CATG advocates for and provides technical assistance to enhance the regional economy, working to manage and protect traditional tribal lands and empowering tribal governments. Offering healthcare services and negotiating self-governance agreements, CATG collaborates with federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native organizations and corporations, and the Native Hawaiian community. Its department, services, and employment opportunities are posted.
https://www.catg.org/
Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center, Inc.
Promoting the socioeconomic development of the Native American community and others who experience similar types of economic difficulties in the Greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area, the COTRAIC is open to Native and non-Native people, with programs available to serve all. It offers early Head Start and Head Start programs, an Elders program, employment and training, a food pantry, and a family center. A calendar of events is posted, and links to other resources are included.
https://www.cotraic.org/
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe of Cowlitz people in Washington. Historically, the Cowlitz lived along the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers, and around Fort Vancouver. Today, many Cowlitz people are enrolled in confederated tribes. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe did not receive federal recognition until 2000. The tribal government offers a range of services to members, including health and human services, social services, natural resources, and housing.
https://cowlitz.org/
Denver Indian Family Resource Center
DIFRC is a non-profit organization created in 2000 to respond to the overrepresentation of American Indian and Alaska Native families involved in the child welfare system. In partnership with Casey Family Programs, DIFRC serves to meet this need through direct services and systems change efforts, as well as advocacy for reunification efforts for families involved in the child welfare system. Its location is in Denver, Colorado, and hours and contacts are posted on the site.
https://difrc.org/
Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes Association
The DF5CTA was created to educate the public about the history and culture of the African-Indian freedmen and their descendants from the Five Civilized Tribes, which include the Cherokee Nation, the Muscogee Creek Nation, the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the Chickasaw Nation. The organization employs legal and political actions to fight ongoing racial discrimination faced by the freedmen's descendants. Its officers and board are introduced.
https://freedmen5tribes.com/
Published since 2013 in Norman, Oklahoma, the independent quarterly print and digital magazine features artwork by Indigenous peoples of North and South America, and includes both ancestral and contemporary works. Distributed to retail outlets throughout the United States and Canada, the magazine is also available by subscription, with selected content available for viewing on its website. Advertising opportunities are noted and contacts are provided.
https://firstamericanartmagazine.com/
Available in French and English, First Nation Profiles is a collection of information about First Nation communities across Canada. The profiles include general information about each nation, along with more detailed information about its governing structures, federal funding, geography, demographics, and other census statistics. Profiles may be found through a variety of variables. Other resources include definitions and answers to frequently asked questions.
https://services.sac-isc.gc.ca/fnp/
Compiled by Dr. Karen Wonders, a Research Fellow at the Institute for the History of Science, University of Goettingen, Germany, the site highlights First Nations and First Nations people in British Columbia. Indian land is described, and maps and photographs are included. Several photographs depicting forestry operations in the province and Kwakiutl protests of the lumber industry. Mining operations and First Nations actions pertaining to them are highlighted, along with developing issues.
http://www.firstnations.de/
First Nations Development Institute
The FNDI is a non-profit organization created to assist Native American tribes, communities, and Native-operated non-profits with economic development through the provision of technical assistance, training, policy development, and the awarding of grants. Its programs are defined and reported, and grant, scholarship, and fellowship opportunities are posted. A list of supporting businesses and organizations is highlighted, and contacts are provided.
https://www.firstnations.org/
Canada's largest Aboriginal newspaper, First Nations Drum, reaches communities all across the country and is distributed to Native bands, friendship centers, tribal councils, schools, colleges, universities, libraries, and Aboriginal businesses and organizations. Subscriptions may also be requested through its website. The publication exclusively covers news and information relevant to Native communities and lifestyles, including politics, music, literature, and sports.
http://www.firstnationsdrum.com/
FNX is a non-profit television network in San Bernardino, California, owned by the San Bernardino Community College District. Broadcast from KVCR-TV studios on campus, FNX is the first and only broadcast network in the country aimed at Native Americans. Its programming schedules, updates, and contacts are provided, along with a map showing Native lands, a calendar of events, and an informational blog. Programming may be viewed on-demand or live-streamed.
https://fnx.org/
First Nations Health Authority
The FNHA is a health service delivery organization charged with administering a variety of health services and programs for First Nations people residing in British Columbia. Its services, programs, and initiatives are discussed, along with wellness tips, guides, and other resources, a description of the First Nations Health Benefits programs, including its goals, benefit areas, a client satisfaction survey, and contact information. FNHS regions and administrative contacts are included.
https://www.fnha.ca/
Available in English and French, the Government of Canada's website discusses the history of First Nations in Canada, including an introduction, early First Nations (the six main geographical groups), the history of First Nations (newcomer relations), a changing relationship from allies to wards (1763-1862), legislated assimilation and development of the Indian Act (1820-1927), new perspectives (1914-1982), and moving toward a new relationship (1982-2008).
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1307460755710/1536862806124
The FNLNGA is a collective of First Nations that participates in and supports the sustainable and responsible use of LNG development in British Columbia. The organization also supports other forms of energy development among First Nations, including hydroelectricity, wind, renewable natural gas, hydrogen, solar, geothermal, nuclear, and biomass. Public education and informational resources are provided, and benefit agreements and contacts are provided.
https://www.fnlngalliance.com/
First Nations Major Projects Coalition
Established to promote the shared interests of its members across Canada, the FNMPC is a national non-profit organization established by First Nations for First Nations. Member services include commercial support, capacity building, facilitation and aggregation, and environmental capacity services. The FNMPC does not engage in projects below $100 million, those that are political in nature, or those that are not member-driven. Member services, projects, and events are noted.
https://fnmpc.ca/
This site is the culmination of a project begun by two education experts, Sylvia Currie and June Kaminski, to create an online resource that builds on research, consultation, and community-based activities. Included is information on best practices and support for online learning initiatives intended for Indigenous students, elders, educators, curriculum developers, and educational leaders. Membership information is provided, and contacts are available.
https://www.firstnationspedagogy.ca/
First Nations Schools Association
Established as a non-profit society in 1996, the FNSA represents and works on behalf of First Nations-controlled schools in British Columbia. Most of the province's First Nations schools are members of the FNSA. The Association has a mandate to support those schools in creating effective, nurturing, and linguistically and culturally appropriate education environments. The FNSA reports to its members at its Annual General Meeting. Its programs, funding, and resources are outlined.
https://www.fnsa.ca/
Headquartered in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the First Nations Summit is a political organization that represents the interests of First Nations peoples in the BC province. The Summit focuses on land rights, self-governance, and treaty negotiations, and plays a role in advancing Indigenous rights and encouraging dialogue between First Nations, the Province of British Columbia, and the Canadian government. Treaty negotiations, a calendar of events, and team contacts are noted.
https://fns.bc.ca/
The FNTC is a shared governance First Nations institution established under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act. The FNTC regulates, supports, and advances First Nation taxation under the FMA and the Indian Act, reviewing and approving local revenue laws, building capacity, reconciling First Nation government and taxpayer interests, and conducting research, advocacy, and services to advance First Nations jurisdiction. The site is available in English and French.
https://www.fntc.ca/
Formed by a group of Indigenous activists who sought to fulfill the Red Nation Prophecy of Tȟašúŋke Witkó, the First Nations Union is a collective of Indigenous Autonomists from across the Western Hemisphere. Its platform focuses on Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and environmental justice, and its constituent populations include tribalized Indigenous peoples, detribalized Indigenous peoples, and occupied Indigenous peoples not of the Western Hemisphere. Contacts are included.
https://www.firstnationsunion.org/
First Nations University of Canada
FNUniv is a post-secondary institution and federated college of the University of Regina, based in Saskatchewan, which operates three campuses within the province (Prince Alpert, Regina, and Saskatoon), where it offers programs in business, humanities, social sciences, sciences, and several programs focused on aboriginal practices. Its locations, admission policies, academic programs, and student life services are featured, and applications may be made online.
https://www.fnuniv.ca/
Published by Rain Ministries, the First Nations Version of the New Testament is a new translation of the Christian Scriptures by and for the Indigenous peoples of North America. Currently, only the New Testament is available, but a translation of the Psalms and Proverbs is in process. The FNV version of the Lord's Prayer may be heard online, a sampler may be downloaded, and purchasing options are given, such as casebound, paperback, e-book, and audiobook. The translation process is outlined.
https://firstnationsversion.com/
Established in 1888 in north-central Montana, the 1,014 square mile reservation is shared by two tribes: the Gros Ventre (also known as Aaniiih, A'aninin, Haaninin, Atsina, and White Clay) and the Nakoda (or Nakoda or Nakona), also known as the Assiniboine (Hohe), the latter of which branched off from the Great Sioux Nation. The history of the reservation, its government, council, departments, and a calendar of events are published on the site, along with job opportunities and contacts.
https://ftbelknap.org/
Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre
Situated in Fort Erie, Ontario, the Centre was an offshoot of the Fort Erie Native Social Club, created in the 1970s. Incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1983, the Centre provides programs to assist community members with their reading and writing skills, employment, and family services, as well as youth-based programs. Its history, programs, events, projects, volunteer and job opportunities, and contacts are posted, and contributions are accepted.
https://www.fenfc.org/
Four Directions Ministry Council
Four Directions is a 501©(3) non-profit organization registered in Billings, Montana. Its leadership council, the majority of whom are Native Americans, is represented in various locations across North America. Its purpose is to identify and bring together Indigenous leaders of the Christian faith who share a common faith story and a common cultural story to bring about a long-term, sustainable ministry among Native American and First Nations communities. Its programs are defined.
https://4directionsmc.net/
Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns
The Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns was created by the Georgia General Assembly and specifically authorized to address the concerns of Georgia's American Indians, including fostering the cultural heritage of American Indians in the state, advising the state and local government on issues affecting American Indians, including burial protection and repatriation. Its projects, issues on artifact collecting, Native sites, and Georgia tribes are included.
https://georgiaindiancouncil.com/
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
The federally recognized Native American tribe of Ottawa (Odawa) and Chippewa (Ojibwa) peoples is located on the Leelanau Peninsula in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, headquartered in Peshawbestown. The tribal council and manager are introduced, along with tribal departments, the tribal court, and public notices and information. Links to business development, legal, general welfare, community connection resources, and contacts are included.
https://www.gtbindians.org//
Founded in 1929, the Heard Museum is a private non-profit organization that offers a variety of collections, exhibitions, educational programming, and sponsored events. It includes twelve galleries of American Indian art and exhibitions, an outdoor sculpture gallery, a museum shop, and an outdoor cafe. Located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, the museum is supported by Heard Museum members, donors, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture.
https://heard.org/
In partnership with the American Indian College Fund, Hesperus assists Native American Veterans to serve as leaders in their communities and work collectively to support and lead their communities after leaving the service, Hesperus offers IT education and employment in the tech industry, which can support and develop the economies of Native American communities, counter racism and intergenerational trauma, and end poverty in Native American communities and rural tribal villages.
https://www.hesper.us/
The Hoh (Chalá·at) tribe is an American Indian tribe on the Olympic Peninsula of western Washington. In 1855, the Hoh moved onto the Hoh Indian Reservation at the mouth of the Hoh River, on the Pacific Coast of Jefferson County. The tribal government is highlighted, including its business committee, administration, health and family services, natural resources, housing, public works, law enforcement, and tribal court system. Its history and culture are highlighted, and contacts are provided.
https://hohtribe-nsn.org/
A Native-led non-profit organization based in Spokane, Washington, Holistic Native is focused on creating healing, wellness, and measurable impact through the foundations of traditional knowledge. The program emphasizes the importance of traditional knowledge and culture in holistic wellness. It promotes health and wholeness through traditional lifeways, such as culture, Native languages, nutrition, physical health, substance abuse, mental health healing, and family and community relationships.
https://holisticnative.org/
A project of IDGenWeb, the website provides information, history, and genealogical resources relating to American Indian tribes in Idaho. These include the Bannock, Kalispel, Nez Percé, Northern Paiute, Palouse, Pend d'Oreilles, Salish (Flathead), Shoshoni, Skitswish (Coeur d'Alene), Snake, and Spokan. Various Indian chiefs and leaders are included, along with Idaho Indian Reservations (Coeur d'Alene Reservation, Duck Valley Reservation, Fort Hall Reservation, and Nez Percé Reservation).
https://indian.idgenweb.org/
A Ciesla Foundation film, "Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting" discusses the movement to end the use of Native American names, logos, and mascots in sports and other areas, comparing it to the leftist social justice movement to remove Confederate imagery. The Ciesla Foundation encourages viewers or readers to engage with the film and discuss the subjects it addresses. An overview of the film, the controversy it discusses, and contacts are included.
https://imaginingtheindianfilm.org/
The Center provides legal assistance to Indigenous peoples of the Americas to combat racism and oppression, protect Native lands and the environment, protect Native cultures and ways of life, achieve sustainable economic development and self-government, and realize other human rights. The site notes its issues, projects, resources, and action items, including regional news, newsletters, information, contact data, and opportunities to contribute to its efforts.
https://indianlaw.org/
Produced by the Indian Summer Society, a registered charity, the festival takes place on the unceded territories of the Musqueam (xʷməθkwəy̓əm), Squamish (Skwxwú7mesh), and Tsleil-Waututh (Səl̓ílwətaɬ) Nations. Schedules and online ticket sales for upcoming events are featured, along with participating artists, and an introduction to the ISS team and board, patrons, supporters, sponsors, and partners. Its Culture Lab for Artists is defined, and career information is available.
https://indiansummerfest.ca/
The website provides a large collection of information on American Indian ancestry, tools for beginning a search, and resources to help those with American Indian ancestry to help build their family tree. Informative materials, special events, cultural sharing opportunities, and a tribal directory are available. Articles on a wide variety of topics and issues related to American Indians are available and sorted alphabetically by subject. Searches may also be made by keyword.
http://www.indians.org/
Focused on advancing Indigenous economic reconciliation in Canada, the Indigenomics Institute strengthens Indigenous economies, fosters sustainable development, and promotes Indigenous-led business initiatives. The Institute provides research, education, and advocacy to support economic empowerment within Indigenous communities. The site features its services, partner and partnership development, educational and training sessions, and sponsored events.
https://indigenomicsinstitute.com/
The website serves as a resource for Indigenous job seekers and employers who may be interested in hiring Indigenous people in Canada. It facilitates connections between job seekers and workers seeking work in Canada. Available jobs are listed on the site, and a map shows their locations. Pricing models for employers show the plans available, including costs and benefits. Employers may sign up and post jobs. Upcoming job fairs and job fair registration are also available.
https://www.indigenouscanada.org/
Certified with QAS International, Indigenous Careers was founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1998 and was incorporated in 1999 and 2024. The Indigenous-led organization operates as an Indigenous social enterprise and non-profit business supported by fees from employer partners, training, and consulting services. Indigenous people can find jobs through the site, and employers can post available positions using one of three listing plans, labeled as tiers. Job-seekers may upload a resume.
https://www.indigenouscareers.org/
Indigenous Environmental Network
IEN is an alliance of Indigenous peoples who share a mission to protect the sacredness of the "Earth Mother" from contamination and exploitation by respecting and adhering to Indigenous knowledge and natural law. Established in 1990, IEN was formed by grassroots Indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues. Its programs, livestreaming programs, alliances, teams, job opportunities, and information on contributing to the IEN are provided.
https://www.ienearth.org/
The website is an information source on topics related to the histories, politics, and cultures of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Developed by the First Nations Studies Program at the University of British Columbia, the site discusses Aboriginal identity and terminology, particularly as used in the classroom, land rights cases, government policies, community organizations, politics, and culture. Global Indigenous issues are outlined, and special projects and video resources are included.
https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/
Indigenous Leadership Development Institute, Inc.
Operated by indigenous people, and directed by a volunteer board, the ILDI is a non-profit organization established to build leadership capacity among indigenous people. It offers training in government-to-government relations, financial responsibility and accountability, nation-building, media training, and negotiation and dispute resolution, with training provided by institutions in Canada and the United States. Projects and contact information are provided.
https://ildii.ca/
Founded by John P. Schmal, a historian and genealogist, the site tells the stories of the people indigenous to the land that is now Mexico. Several informational articles are provided in English and Spanish and sorted into the Mexican states and the U.S. states of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Additionally, articles may be found through an included index or through a keyword search. An informational blog and an online contact form are included.
https://www.indigenousmexico.org/
Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada
Produced by Canadian Geographic, a magazine published by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and founded in 1929, the published Atlas may be purchased online, with links provided. Large sections of it (Truth and Reconciliation, First Nations, Inuit, Metis, Languages, Still Standing, Connections to the Land) are available for reading, at least in part, through the website, along with forwards to the Atlas. Website information is available in both English and French.
https://indigenouspeoplesatlasofcanada.ca/
Indigenous Pride LA is the only Pride organization and event in Los Angeles, California, that celebrates Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, and Indigenous LGBTQIA+ culture, identities, and heritage. Its issues include protecting the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a law that addresses the removal of Native children from their families, communities, and culture, the City of Angels Two-Spirit Society, LGBTQPIA+ education, and the Indigenous response to COVID-19. An event calendar and contacts are included.
https://www.indigenouspridela.org/
British Columbia is home to 204 Indigenous communities and more than 30 Indigenous languages, and its six diverse regions offer extensive Indigenous experiences. The Indigenous Tourism Association of British Columbia is a non-profit, membership-based organization committed to growing and promoting a sustainable Indigenous tourism industry. Travel ideas, things to do, places to go, places to stay, and trip-planning information are provided. Contact information is provided.
https://www.indigenousbc.com/
Federally registered as a non-profit, Indigenous Watchdog monitors and reports on how reconciliation is advancing on the issues impacting the Indigenous world in Canada. Its mission includes delivering relevant, quality information on Indigenous issues to educate, inform, and transform the dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians into action, primarily focused on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action.
https://www.indigenouswatchdog.org/
Originally known as the Aboriginal Human Resource Council, Indigenous Works is an Indigenous national social enterprise with a mandate to improve the inclusion and engagement of Indigenous people in the Canadian economy. Incorporated in 1999, the Indigenous-led organization is governed by a board of directors, including private sector businesses, NGOs, and Indigenous economic development corporations. Its training, consulting, and certification programs are featured.
https://www.iworks.org/
Indigenous World is a non-profit charity organization dedicated to fostering the cultural, social, and economic advancement of Indigenous people across North America, with particular emphasis on educating, preserving, protecting, and promoting the Indigenous cultures of Turtle Island. Tribal territories, nations, and confederacies are discussed, and its initiatives, projects, and partners are acknowledged, including its "One: People, Planet & Purpose (One People, One Planet) movement.
https://indigenousworld.org/
Institute of American Indian Arts
The IAIA is a public tribal land-grant college in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Founded in 1962 with funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the college focuses on Native American art. It operates the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, which is housed in the historic Santa Fe Federal Building, and houses the National Collection of Contemporary Indian Art. Course schedules, academic programs, admissions policies, student services, and contacts are featured on the site.
https://iaia.edu/
Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes
Representing the Cherokee Nation, the Chickasaw Nation, the Choctaw Nation, the Muscogee Nation, and the Great Seminole Nation, together known as the "Five Civilized Tribes," the ITC addresses various issues related to member tribes, such as public safety, healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure, sovereignty, cultural preservation, collaboration, and advocacy with state and federal authorities. Quarterly meeting schedules are announced, and contacts are provided.
https://fivecivilizedtribes.org/
International Council on Indigenous Language Documentation, Education, and Revitalization
Hosted by the Council of Indigenous Language Organizations, ICILDER brings together Indigenous communities, educators, linguists, and scholars from around the world to share their knowledge and experiences, inspiring future language revitalization efforts. Conference schedules, registration, committee members, locations, and nearby accommodations are highlighted, along with keynote speakers, a contact form, and a gallery of photographs from past conference events are included.
https://icilder.org/
This portion of the IPL website provides information about Native North American authors, including bibliographies of their published works, biographical information, ISBN numbers, and links to online resources such as interviews, online texts, and tribal websites, where relevant. Currently, the site focuses on contemporary Native American authors, although some historical authors are represented. Content may be browsed alphabetically by authors, titles, or tribes.
https://www.ipl.org/div/natam/
Formerly known as the Klamath Indian Tribe of Oregon, the Klamath Tribes are a federally recognized American Indian Nation comprised of three separate tribes who traditionally lived in the Southern Oregon and Northern California area: the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin. The history of the tribe, the Treaty of 1864, and tribal culture and heritage are noted, along with its governmental structure, councils, departments, and services. Tribal businesses, industries, and job openings are noted.
https://klamathtribes.org/
The LAB is designed to support First Nations communities in their efforts to reestablish control over their lands, natural resources, and environment. It is made up of an elected chairman and regionally elected directors, determined by the council of the signatory First Nations. The signatory First Nations are introduced here, along with their framework agreement, training, support, and other resources, as well as a schedule of events. Phone numbers and an online contact form are available.
https://labrc.com/
Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness
The MCNAA was founded in 1989 to provide opportunities for the expression and preservation of Native American cultural traditions, assist Native American residents with essential needs and educational expenses, advance public knowledge and understanding to dispel inaccurate information about Native Americans and work toward racial equality across the Massachusetts region. Its board, programs, events, and opportunities to get involved are posted, along with contacts.
https://www.mcnaa.org/
Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center
Founded in 1984, the MIWRC is a non-profit social and mental health services organization created to offer support services to Native women and their families. The organization provides a range of services to provide educational services, empowerment, and information. MIWRC is located in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, which has a high urban American Indian population. Its board of directors, staff, and governance structure are defined.
https://www.miwrc.org/
A partnership of the Musqueam Indian Band, the Squamish Nation, and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, MST Development Corporation, was established to oversee properties owned by the MST Partnership. The three nations in the partnership are full or co-owners of six prime properties throughout Metro Vancouver, totaling more than 160 acres of developable land. Its leadership, logo, and contacts are provided on the website, along with an overview of its projects, announcements, and updates.
http://mstdevelopment.ca/
The current-day Muwekma Ohlone Tribe is made up of all the known surviving Amerian Indian lineages aboriginal to the San Francisco Bay region who trace their ancestry through the Missions Dolores, Santa Clara, and San Jose, and who were members of the previously federally recognized Verona Band of Alameda County. Tribal history, culture, government, and current initiatives are discussed, and resources for tribal members are included, along with a photo gallery and contacts.
http://www.muwekma.org/
National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers
NATHPO is the only national organization devoted to supporting tribal historic preservation programs. Founded in 1998, it is a non-profit membership association of tribal government officials implementing federal and tribal preservation laws. The organization's website includes a THPO directory, information about THPOs, and a member center that includes membership information, a member application form, and a member login. A calendar of upcoming programs and events is included.
https://www.nathpo.org/
National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, The
The non-profit organization assists American Indian tribes and tribal people with business and economic development, helping to develop and expand the American Indian private sector that employs Indian labor, increasing the number of viable tribal and individually owned Indian businesses, and impacting reservation communities through employment and business relationships. Its programs, events, policies, and reports are noted, and its board and staff contacts are provided.
https://www.ncaied.org/
National Congress of American Indians
Founded in 1944, the NCAI is an American Indian and Alaska Native rights organization that represents tribes and resists federal government pressure for the termination of tribal rights and assimilation of their people. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization's history, mission, governance, current and past leadership, and contacts are featured on the site, which documents its policies, resolutions, projects, youth programs, and regions. A schedule of events is included.
https://www.ncai.org/
National Council of Urban Indian Health
The NCUIH is a national non-profit organization that supports and develops quality, accessible, and culturally competent health services for American Indians and Alaskan Natives living in urban settings. Its mission, vision, and strategic plan are posted on its site, and an overview of its impact, research programs, public health campaigns, and policies are featured, with training programs, one-on-one technical assistance, media, and events. Contacts are posted on the site.
https://ncuih.org/
National Indian Council on Aging
The NICOA was founded in 1976 by members of the National Tribal Chairmen's Association and given the mission of advocating for improved comprehensive health, social services, and economic well-being for American Indian and Alaska Native elders. It provides services through the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Dep't of Health & Human Services, and is a national sponsor for the Senior Community Service Employment Program. Its policies and programs are defined.
https://www.nicoa.org/
National Indian Education Association
The NIEA advocates for educational opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Founded in 1969, the organization focuses on advancing comprehensive culture-based educational opportunities and works on policy development, advocacy, and programmatic initiatives at local, state, and federal levels to improve resources and support for educators and advocate for policies that are beneficial to Native students. Its programs and memberships are highlighted.
https://www.niea.org/
National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
Founded and led by Native American women, the NIWRC is a non-profit organization headquartered in Lame Deer, Montana. It provides health resources to Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women and advocates for women's health, housing, and domestic violence support. The site includes information about its staff, board of directors, tribal partners and coalitions, national partners, and job opportunities. It also includes information related to technical assistance and policies.
https://www.niwrc.org/
National Museum of the American Indian
One of several Smithsonian Institution museums and research centers, the National Museum of the American Indian has three facilities: the National Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the George Gustav Here Center in New York City, and the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, Maryland. Its locations, exhibitions, collections, research, and events are highlighted, Educational resources include lessons and research data. Online resources and a shopping area are included.
https://americanindian.si.edu/
National Native American Bar Association
The NNABA was organized in 1973 as the American Indian Lawyers Association. It adopted its current name in 1980 after reorganizing and developing a chapter system for state Indian bar associations. Each of its chapters has a vote on the NNABA board of directors, and the national organization represents the interests of all populations indigenous to the lands that are now the United States, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
https://www.nativeamericanbar.org/
National Native American Co-operative
The cooperative offers incentives to American Indian artists representing more than four hundred tribal nations to preserve their traditional and contemporary crafts, culture, and education through Indian culture programs and events. Native American cultural events are listed, and several books are offered for sale, including a Native American Directory and a book on American Indian events in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Several photos are included.
https://www.usaindianinfo.com/
Carried on more than two hundred radio stations in the United States and Canada, National Native News is a US-based public radio headlines package service owned by the Koranic Broadcast Corporation. It produces and distributes a daily, five-minute segment of news stories related to Native American and Canadian First Nations issues that are used by public radio stations to supplement their locally produced news programming. Segments may be listened to through the site, and contacts are posted.
https://www.nativenews.net/
National Tribal Energy Association
The mission of the NTEA is to promote the responsible and sustainable development of tribal fossil fuel resources while ensuring the protection and preservation of our natural environment and the well-being of its communities. The Association empowers tribes to monetize their resources while maintaining a careful attitude toward environmental, social, and governance factors. Its board is introduced, and an email and contact form are available.
https://ntea-na.org/
National Tribal Telecommunications Association
The NTTA was created to provide a forum for tribally owned companies and those who work in the telecommunications industry to share knowledge and opportunities, discuss the effects of regulation and address issues affecting tribal telecommunications companies and customers on tribal lands. Tribal members and associate members are listed on its website, which includes a member login and information about its advocacy issues and projects. Contacts and an online inquiry form are available.
https://nationaltribaltelecom.org/
Native Alliance Against Violence
Created in 2009, the NAAV serves as the tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalition in Oklahoma, acting within the federally recognized tribes. The non-profit organization is not a direct service provider, but it does serve the tribes and their tribal domestic violence and sexual assault programs. A directory of tribal DVSA programs in Oklahoma is included, with contacts, a brief outline, and links to available websites. A calendar of events, public resources, and a blog are included.
https://oknaav.org/
Created in 2016, Native America Today is made possible through an alliance between "Native American Media" and the former monthly print publication, "News from Indian Country." It publishes current news and journalism, particularly from the perspectives of Native people who have too often been marginalized by traditional stereotypical images. It includes a video gallery depicting contemporary Native cultural events, heritage, and images. Contacts are posted.
https://nativeamericatoday.com/
