Native North Americans - Mind Map

Before European contact, Indigenous nations developed advanced systems of governance, trade, and agriculture.

European arrival in the 15th and 16th centuries brought profound changes.

Colonization led to displacement, conflict, and the introduction of diseases that decimated populations.

Forced removal to reservations disrupted traditional ways of life.

Assimilation policies, including Indian boarding schools, sought to erase Native cultures.

Indigenous peoples continue to fight for sovereignty, land rights, and cultural preservation.

The American Indian Movement (AIM) and other organizations advocate for political and social justice.

Cultivated crops like corn, potatoes, and tomatoes, which became staples worldwide.

Practices of sustainable resource use inspire modern conservation efforts.

The Iroquois Confederacy influenced the U.S. Constitution.

Ideas of communal living and respect for nature continue to resonate globally.

Struggles to reclaim ancestral lands and maintain sovereignty.

Efforts to revitalize languages, traditions, and spiritual practices.

Addressing systemic issues like poverty, healthcare access, and education.

Native North Americans, also called Indigenous Peoples, are the original inhabitants of North America.

As of modern times, Indigenous populations have grown and include diverse groups such as First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in Canada, and Native American tribes in the United States.

Native North Americans include hundreds of unique tribes and nations, each with distinct languages, traditions, and histories.

Includes the Inuit and Aleut peoples.

Subsisted through hunting marine mammals like seals and whales.

Built igloos and kayaks as part of their innovative adaptation to harsh climates.

Lived in dense forests and tundra, including Cree and Athabaskan groups.

Relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering, often moving seasonally.

Included tribes like the Lakota, Blackfoot, and Cheyenne.

Famous for their nomadic lifestyle centered around buffalo hunting.

Lived in tipis, which were easily portable for life on the Great Plains.

Included the Hopi, Navajo, and Apache tribes.

Built adobe dwellings and cultivated crops like corn, beans, and squash.

Known for their intricate pottery and weaving traditions.

Included the Iroquois, Algonquin, and Cherokee tribes.

Lived in longhouses or wigwams and practiced agriculture and hunting.

Created complex political systems, such as the Iroquois Confederacy.

Includes Tlingit, Haida, and Salish tribes.

Known for their totem poles, woodworking, and fishing expertise.

Held potlatches, ceremonies celebrating wealth and community.

Deep connection to nature and belief in the interdependence of all life.

Spiritual practices often involve storytelling, rituals, and ceremonies.

Rich traditions in pottery, beadwork, weaving, and carving.

Music and dance played central roles in ceremonial and social life.

Native North America was home to hundreds of languages, many of which are now endangered.

Efforts are being made to revitalize languages such as Navajo, Cherokee, and Mohawk.