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[[File:American indians map.jpg|thumb|400px|North American indians map, Census 2000. See larger map: [http://www.conservapedia.com/File:American_indians_map_big.jpg]]]

[[File:American indians map.jpg|thumb|400px|North American Indians map, Census 2000. See larger map: [http://www.conservapedia.com/File:American_indians_map_big.jpg]]]

'''North American Indians''' (also '''Native Americans''') are the original inhabitants of the Americas. The Native Americans of [[North America]] are typically considered to be all those tribes north of Central [[Mexico]].  While technically part of North America, most archaeologists tend to place the civilizations of Central Mexico into a separate category.<ref>Swidler, Nina, Dongoske, Roger. 1997.  ''Native Americans and Archaeologists: Stepping Stones to Common Ground.'' Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press.</ref> Tribes in North America maintained a wide variety of [[subsistence pattern]]s, from hunting and gathering, to intensive agriculture.  North America is also home to two of the most unusual groups of hunter-gatherers, the Northwest Coast tribes, and the Aleuts.  The first Native Americans are believed to have migrated from Asia via the [[Bering land bridge]], the exposed continental shelf through Alaska between Asia and North America during the last Ice Age.     

'''North American Indians''' (also '''Native Americans''') are the original inhabitants of the Americas. The Native Americans of [[North America]] are typically considered to be all those tribes north of Central [[Mexico]].  While technically part of North America, most archaeologists tend to place the civilizations of Central Mexico into a separate category.<ref>Swidler, Nina, Dongoske, Roger. 1997.  ''Native Americans and Archaeologists: Stepping Stones to Common Ground.'' Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press.</ref> Tribes in North America maintained a wide variety of [[subsistence pattern]]s, from hunting and gathering, to intensive agriculture.  North America is also home to two of the most unusual groups of hunter-gatherers, the Northwest Coast tribes, and the Aleuts.  The first Native Americans are believed to have migrated from Asia via the [[Bering land bridge]], the exposed continental shelf through Alaska between Asia and North America during the last Ice Age.     

===Deaths by disease===

===Deaths by disease===

Indian populations suffered substantial losses over time, mainly due to disease and warfare. As author Guenter Lewy reports, great disparities exists in estimates of native American Indian populations before the arrival of Europeans, from around 1.2 million to 12 million, with assertions being given of inflation or deflation of numbers. However, it is generally accepted that that only 250,000 native Americans were alive in the territory of the United States at the end of the 19th century. The major cause of the reduction of population is understood by many scholars to be ''virgin-soil epidemic'', that of death through the the spread of highly contagious diseases to which the Natives had no immunity. The principal pathogen was smallpox, the effects of which also killed by hunger by reducing the food gatherers. Other killers included measles, influenza, whooping cough, diphtheria, typhus, bubonic plague, cholera, and scarlet fever. It is estimated that between 75 to 90 percent of all Indian deaths resulted from such killers. While there is evidence that some Europeans promoted this decimation, and certain liberal historians  are given to ideological-driven charges, specific accounts of such are in dispute, but poor medical understanding, as well as poor conditions and later forced relocations, such as that of  Cherokee resettlement 1838, certainly fostered it. However, the largest loss of life occurred well before such forced relocation, and sometimes after only little contact with European traders from Europe.

Indian populations suffered substantial losses over time, mainly due to disease and warfare. As author Guenter Lewy reports, great disparities exists in estimates of Native American Indian populations before the arrival of Europeans, from around 1.2 million to 12 million, with assertions being given of inflation or deflation of numbers. However, it is generally accepted that that only 250,000 Native Americans were alive in the territory of the United States at the end of the 19th century. The major cause of the reduction of population is understood by many scholars to be ''virgin-soil epidemic'', that of death through the spread of highly contagious diseases to which the Natives had no immunity. The principal pathogen was smallpox, the effects of which also killed by hunger by reducing the food gatherers. Other killers included measles, influenza, whooping cough, diphtheria, typhus, bubonic plague, cholera, and scarlet fever. It is estimated that between 75 and 90 percent of all Indian deaths resulted from such killers. While there is evidence that some Europeans promoted this decimation, and certain liberal historians  are given to ideological-driven charges, specific accounts of such are in dispute, but poor medical understanding, as well as poor conditions and later forced relocations, such as that of  Cherokee resettlement 1838, certainly fostered it. However, the largest loss of life occurred well before such forced relocation, and sometimes after only little contact with European traders from Europe.

====Death by war====

====Death by war====

===New England praying Indians===

===New England praying Indians===

A once numerous class of Christian Indians existed in America known as ''praying Indians'' mainly in New England. These helped the  the [[Patriot]] cause in the American Revolution, but were treated shamefully due to distrust by most of the Colonialists during the period of [[King Phillip's War]], reducing their numbers from an estimated estimated 20 percent of Massachusetts Indians to a few hundred.  

A once numerous class of Christian Indians existed in America known as ''praying Indians'' mainly in New England. These helped the [[Patriot]] cause in the American Revolution, but were treated shamefully due to distrust by most of the Colonialists during the period of [[King Phillip's War]], reducing their numbers from an estimated estimated 20 percent of Massachusetts Indians to a few hundred.  

   

   

[[Roger Williams]] of [[Rhode Island]] and and Thomas Mayhew of [[Martha's Vineyard]]  were the first  English missionaries to  seek the conversion of  New England's natives, but [[John Eliot]] was much more successful, largely because of his command of the complex native  Algonquian language (spoken by many Indian nations) which was without a written tradition, but which Eliot provided and translated the Bible into.

[[Roger Williams]] of [[Rhode Island]] and Thomas Mayhew of [[Martha's Vineyard]]  were the first  English missionaries to  seek the conversion of  New England's natives, but [[John Eliot]] was much more successful, largely because of his command of the complex native  Algonquian language (spoken by many Indian nations) which was without a written tradition, but which Eliot provided and translated the Bible into.

Historian and author Robert D. Hall stated that “Eliot was a genius." "He was a missionary, a teacher, a linguist. He founded the Roxbury Latin School. He learned the Algonquin tongue and translated it into English.’’

Historian and author Robert D. Hall stated that “Eliot was a genius." "He was a missionary, a teacher, a linguist. He founded the Roxbury Latin School. He learned the Algonquin tongue and translated it into English.’’

Between 1646 to 1674, Eliot saw some 1100 Massachusetts natives convert to the Christian religion, and played a central role in establishing fourteen “Praying Indian” communities in the eastern part of Massachusetts.<ref>"Talk on first Christian Indians," The Boston Globe Newspaper, May 13, 2010</ref><ref>http://www.braintreehistorical.org/NewsLetters/March2007.pdf</ref>

Between 1646 to 1674, Eliot saw some 1100 Massachusetts natives convert to the Christian religion, and played a central role in establishing fourteen “Praying Indian” communities in the eastern part of Massachusetts.<ref>"Talk on first Christian Indians," The Boston Globe Newspaper, May 13, 2010</ref><ref>http://www.braintreehistorical.org/NewsLetters/March2007.pdf</ref>

The praying town of Natick is considered the oldest, being founded in 1651, and by 1674  six more principal praying towns existed: Hassanamesit, Magunkaquog, Nashobah, Okommakamesit, Punkapog, and Wamesit. However,  the praying Indians were practically destroyed by the other Native Americans  in [[King Philip's War]]  circa 1675 and by the English, both of whom viewed them as traitors. From a estimated population of 1,100 in 1674, they were reduced to only 300 by 1680.<ref>"praying Indians," The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com;  http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/praying_Indians.aspx</ref>  

The praying town of Natick is considered the oldest, being founded in 1651, and by 1674  six more principal praying towns existed: Hassanamesit, Magunkaquog, Nashobah, Okommakamesit, Punkapog, and Wamesit. However,  the praying Indians were practically destroyed by the other Native Americans  in [[King Philip's War]]  circa 1675 and by the English, both of whom viewed them as traitors. From an estimated population of 1,100 in 1674, they were reduced to only 300 by 1680.<ref>"praying Indians," The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com;  http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/praying_Indians.aspx</ref>  

<ref>The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, 2008</ref>   

<ref>The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, 2008</ref>   

John Eliot (1605 - 1690), born in Widford, Hertfordshire, [[England]] in 1604, was the younger son of Bennett Eliot, a wealthy landowner. At the age of only  fifteen he entered Jesus College at Cambridge University, where he soon was recognized as a brilliant linguist and classical scholar.

John Eliot (1605 - 1690), born in Widford, Hertfordshire, [[England]] in 1604, was the younger son of Bennett Eliot, a wealthy landowner. At the age of only  fifteen he entered Jesus College at Cambridge University, where he soon was recognized as a brilliant linguist and classical scholar.

In 1631 Eliot joined a great migration of Puritans to North America, resulting from the persecution of nonconformists (men who in conscience toward God could not assent to the [[Church of England]]. Eliot found a home in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], and was immediately hired as a substitute for the then-absent Reverend John Wilson.  Although the Boston congregation wanted Eliot to be an associate minister when Wilson returned from England, he chose to become the pastor of the church of neighboring Roxbury. Eliot served in that pastorate for almost sixty years, while also fathering six children during his long and happy union with his wife, Ann (Mumford) Eliot, which  lasted until his death in 1690.

In 1631 Eliot joined a great migration of Puritans to North America, resulting from the persecution of nonconformists (men who in conscience toward God could not assent to the [[Church of England]]). Eliot found a home in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], and was immediately hired as a substitute for the then-absent Reverend John Wilson.  Although the Boston congregation wanted Eliot to be an associate minister when Wilson returned from England, he chose to become the pastor of the church of neighboring Roxbury. Eliot served in that pastorate for almost sixty years, while also fathering six children during his long and happy union with his wife, Ann (Mumford) Eliot, which  lasted until his death in 1690.

Eliot learned the language of the local Native Americans, and some fifteen years after his arrival in America he began his missionary work to the American Indians. In addition to his personal burden, Eliot had official support during that period, as the English government had required of the Bay Colony that conversion of the natives be a high priority in granting its charter in 1628. The seal of the Mass Bay Colony even featured an Indian pleading with the English to “Come over and help us,” based on Acts 16:9, but very little had been accomplished as yet.

Eliot learned the language of the local Native Americans, and some fifteen years after his arrival in America he began his missionary work to the American Indians. In addition to his personal burden, Eliot had official support during that period, as the English government had required of the Bay Colony that conversion of the natives be a high priority in granting its charter in 1628. The seal of the Mass Bay Colony even featured an Indian pleading with the English to “Come over and help us,” based on Acts 16:9, but very little had been accomplished as yet.

*How may we come to serve God?

*How may we come to serve God?

As a result of this ongoing evangelism many were convicted in heart of their sins and need of salvation in Christ,  some to the point of weeping, and  Waban  turned to the Lord [[Jesus Christ]] and progressively many others of his people. The Indians offered all their children for Christian education, and some even  reproved Englishmen:  "An Indian seeing a profane Englishman fall a tree on the Sabbath said to him, 'Do you not know that this is the Lord's day in the Massachusetts, much matchet man, (i. e. much wicked man,) what, break you God's day?'"  They also exhorted other Indians  to turn to to the faith, and endured persecution, with at least one suffering martyrdom by being poisoned.  

As a result of this ongoing evangelism many were convicted in heart of their sins and need of salvation in Christ,  some to the point of weeping, and  Waban  turned to the Lord [[Jesus Christ]] and progressively many others of his people. The Indians offered all their children for Christian education, and some even  reproved Englishmen:  "An Indian seeing a profane Englishman fall a tree on the Sabbath said to him, 'Do you not know that this is the Lord's day in the Massachusetts, much matchet man, (i. e. much wicked man,) what, break you God's day?'"  They also exhorted other Indians  to turn to the faith, and endured persecution, with at least one suffering martyrdom by being poisoned.  

The official sanction of the work by the government also meant that the need for more land was made to Eliot, who interceded for them (leading liberal historians to impugn their motives)

The official sanction of the work by the government also meant that the need for more land was made to Eliot, who interceded for them (leading liberal historians to impugn their motives)

The Indian Bible was the first book printed in an American Indian language, and was also the second book of any kind printed in Massachusetts (''The Bay Psalm Book'' of 1640 being held as being the first, which Eliot is also credited as being an editor of). The Eliot Bible appeared some 120 years before the first complete English edition of the Bible was published in what is now the United States (due to the economics of printing versus importing)

The Indian Bible was the first book printed in an American Indian language, and was also the second book of any kind printed in Massachusetts (''The Bay Psalm Book'' of 1640 being held as being the first, which Eliot is also credited as being an editor of). The Eliot Bible appeared some 120 years before the first complete English edition of the Bible was published in what is now the United States (due to the economics of printing versus importing)

    

    

In seventeenth-century New England, Christian practice was a way of life, and steady, dutiful habits and working towards economic stablity were part of what constituted true Christian faith, and which living in English-style buildings and maintaining  English work rhythms on geographically defined homesteads was conducive to.   

In seventeenth-century New England, Christian practice was a way of life, and steady, dutiful habits and working towards economic stability were part of what constituted true Christian faith, and which living in English-style buildings and maintaining  English work rhythms on geographically defined homesteads was conducive to.   

An early historian of Newton, pastor Jonathan Homer,  provided the following description of the "Praying Indian" village of Nonantum:

An early historian of Newton, pastor Jonathan Homer,  provided the following description of the "Praying Indian" village of Nonantum:

However, in less than five years after its foundation, Eliot was obliged to migrate the entire population of this  North American Christian Indian community to a 3,000-acre site some fifteen miles to the southwest, in the present town of Natick.<ref>[http://www.braintreehistorical.org/NewsLetters/March2007.pdf The Lantern] Braintree Historical Society, VOL March 2007 XXV No.3</ref><ref>http://hassanamesit.org/images/documents/History%20Report%20-%20Final%2012012006.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm036.html</ref><ref>http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm004.html</ref><ref>http://www.tyndalesploughboy.org/eliot-bible/</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=FZ8DAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA18&dq=rev+john+elliot&output=text Memoirs of the life and character of Rev. John Eliot], pp. 24-43</ref>  

However, in less than five years after its foundation, Eliot was obliged to migrate the entire population of this  North American Christian Indian community to a 3,000-acre site some fifteen miles to the southwest, in the present town of Natick.<ref>[http://www.braintreehistorical.org/NewsLetters/March2007.pdf The Lantern] Braintree Historical Society, VOL March 2007 XXV No.3</ref><ref>http://hassanamesit.org/images/documents/History%20Report%20-%20Final%2012012006.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm036.html</ref><ref>http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm004.html</ref><ref>http://www.tyndalesploughboy.org/eliot-bible/</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=FZ8DAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA18&dq=rev+john+elliot&output=text Memoirs of the life and character of Rev. John Eliot], pp. 24-43</ref>  

Twenty years after the arrival of Eliot, the Massachusetts General Court established Natick (meaning  “Place of Searching”) as the  praying Indian village/town in 1651, helping them to  be able to to worship in peace. This is considered by some to be the first '''formally''' "Christian town" in America, and consisted at first of 51 inhabitants in seven villages, with seven more being later established.  The beloved (by the Indians at least) Eliot became known as the “Apostle to the Indians.”  

Twenty years after the arrival of Eliot, the Massachusetts General Court established Natick (meaning  “Place of Searching”) as the  praying Indian village/town in 1651, helping them to  be able to worship in peace. This is considered by some to be the first '''formally''' "Christian town" in America, and consisted at first of 51 inhabitants in seven villages, with seven more being later established.  The beloved (by the Indians at least) Eliot became known as the “Apostle to the Indians.”  

Other praying Indian Towns also were established, including Ponkapoag (Stoughton, MA) and Nashoba (Littleton, MA), but also covering portions of Dover, Wellesley, and Needham in addition to Dedham. By 1675, it is estimated that 20 percent of the Native Indians in New England lived in praying Towns.

Other praying Indian Towns also were established, including Ponkapoag (Stoughton, MA) and Nashoba (Littleton, MA), but also covering portions of Dover, Wellesley, and Needham in addition to Dedham. By 1675, it is estimated that 20 percent of the Native Indians in New England lived in praying Towns.

During the period of the 1730s to the 1770s, the Delaware Indians had been forced out of their homelands in the east and had found temporary refuge along the Ohio River.  

During the period of the 1730s to the 1770s, the Delaware Indians had been forced out of their homelands in the east and had found temporary refuge along the Ohio River.  

   

   

Among these was a contingent of Moravian Indian converts in western Delaware.  During the 1740s the Moravians had established communities of Indian Christians from Georgia to New York , but these were gradually moved westward further away from "civilization", due to increasing pressures of European settlements. Yet the Moravians believed that healthy communities could exist separate from both the negative influences of European society as well as the pagan customs of non-Christianized Indians.

Among these was a contingent of Moravian Indian converts in western Delaware.  During the 1740s the Moravians had established communities of Indian Christians from Georgia to New York, but these were gradually moved westward further away from "civilization", due to increasing pressures of European settlements. Yet the Moravians believed that healthy communities could exist separate from both the negative influences of European society as well as the pagan customs of non-Christianized Indians.

In the early 1770s  settlements of Christian Indians were established in Gnadenhutten, Salem and New Schonbrunn where Delawares, Mohicans, and other tribal affiliations mingled together as religious communities.  

In the early 1770s  settlements of Christian Indians were established in Gnadenhutten, Salem and New Schonbrunn where Delawares, Mohicans, and other tribal affiliations mingled together as religious communities.  

The other abandoned Moravian towns were then burned as well. Two Indian boys, one of whom had been scalped, survived to tell of the massacre.  The bordermen who had committed the mass murder were hailed as heroes by most of their fellow frontiersmen, but were deemed as criminals by most of the rest of America.}}

The other abandoned Moravian towns were then burned as well. Two Indian boys, one of whom had been scalped, survived to tell of the massacre.  The bordermen who had committed the mass murder were hailed as heroes by most of their fellow frontiersmen, but were deemed as criminals by most of the rest of America.}}

90-96 Delaware (Lenni Lenape), Mohican, and other Indians who had been converted by Moravian missionaries to Christianity died, and as a result of the the massacre, Indian distrust of Americans and resistance to them much increased.<ref>[http://gnadenhutten.tripod.com Gnadenhutten Massacre]</ref><ref>[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gwilli824/moravian.html Information on the Militia Criminals]</ref>

90-96 Delaware (Lenni Lenape), Mohican, and other Indians who had been converted by Moravian missionaries to Christianity died, and as a result of the massacre, Indian distrust of Americans and resistance to them much increased.<ref>[http://gnadenhutten.tripod.com Gnadenhutten Massacre]</ref><ref>[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gwilli824/moravian.html Information on the Militia Criminals]</ref>

==Negative effects of resettlement==

==Negative effects of resettlement==

Later, after the American Indian Peoples were rounded up onto reservations, the sudden dependence on the government created situations that are often associated with welfare situations.  Both because of biology (Indian people like many Asian people do not break down alcohol the same way Europeans do) and the lack of being a "bread winner" that men throughout history find critical to identity as head of the family, alcohol and drug abuse became very common both among reservation and urban Indians, as is the case today.<ref>12% of Indian deaths are related to alcohol, several times the national average. http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Aug28/0,4670,IndianDeathsAlcohol,00.html</ref> A strong rise in child and spousal abuse occurred after the "welfare state" like existence for the men came into being.  Without the need to provide for the family, depression sets in, and is a common problem on the reservation.

Later, after the American Indian Peoples were rounded up onto reservations, the sudden dependence on the government created situations that are often associated with welfare situations.  Both because of biology (Indian people like many Asian people do not break down alcohol the same way Europeans do) and the lack of being a "bread winner" that men throughout history find critical to identity as head of the family, alcohol and drug abuse became very common both among reservation and urban Indians, as is the case today.<ref>12% of Indian deaths are related to alcohol, several times the national average. http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Aug28/0,4670,IndianDeathsAlcohol,00.html</ref> A strong rise in child and spousal abuse occurred after the "welfare state" like existence for the men came into being.  Without the need to provide for the family, depression sets in, and is a common problem on the reservation.

Conflicts between "traditionalists" and "modernists", between "Christian Indians" and "tribal religion" Indians, between urban Indians and reservation Indians, and "full bloods" and "mixed bloods" are common among Indian people and effect their politics and social life.  In the 1980's, Indian reservations began to see a rise in gangs, often as a result of drugs and drug wars with other social cultures in large cities.

Conflicts between "traditionalists" and "modernists", between "Christian Indians" and "tribal religion" Indians, between urban Indians and reservation Indians, and "full bloods" and "mixed bloods" are common among Indian people and effect their politics and social life.  In the 1980s, Indian reservations began to see a rise in gangs, often as a result of drugs and drug wars with other social cultures in large cities.

==Indian tribes today==

==Indian tribes today==