American Indian

American Indians are the descendants of the inhabitants of North and South America before the coming of Europeans in 1492.

They are believed to have descended from Asians who crossed the Bering Straitland bridge during the last Ice Age. According to archaeologists, this took place as early as 20,000 years ago.

Those who are only partly descended from those early inhabitants are still considered American Indians if they maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment. However, each Indian tribe or band has its own definitions regarding membership, some based on historical tradition, others based on rules (like blood quanta) imposed by the US Government.

A few American Indians prefer to be called Native Americans in order to distinguish themselves from the people of India, and to emphasize their North America ancestry.

During the American Civil War, many Indian tribes supported the Confederacy, on the grounds that they were against the U.S. government and due to the fact that many among the so called "civilized tribes" such as the Cherokee also owned African slaves.

Sovereignties

In the United States there are 562 Native American tribes that retain their independent sovereignties.

Origins

The much-taught theory that American Indians are descendants of migrants from Asia is almost certainly false. Their blood types and other characteristics are very different.

In 1996 there was a discovery of fragments of a skeleton called the Kennewick Man. But serious doubts about the authenticity of these remains have resulted in litigation and criticism. Some claimed that radiocarbon dating supported an age of more than 9000 years. The morphology of the Kennewick Man remains is said to differ from that of present day Native Americans, suggesting a different ancestry but there remains significant controversy about that.

See Also

• North American Indians
• Native American
• Wounded Knee Massacre