Indian Tribes of North America Collections – Page 10 of 17

Miluk Indians

Miluk Indians were located at the mouth of Coquille River in Oregon.

Mikasuki Tribe – Meaning unknown. Mikasuki Connections. These Indians belonged to the Hitchiti-speaking branch of the Muskhogean linguistic family. They are said by some to have branched from the true Hitchiti, but those who claim that they were originally Chiaha are probably correct. Mikasuki Location. Their earliest known home was about Miccosukee Lake in Jefferson County. (See also Oklahoma.) Mikasuki Villages. Alachua Talofa or John Hick’s Town, in the Alachua Plains, Alachua County. New Mikasuki, near Greenville in Madison County. Old Mikasuki, near Miccosukee Lake. Mikasuki History. The name Mikasuki appears about 1778 and therefore we know that their independent … Read more

Michigan Indian Tribes

Miami Indians

Miami is thought to be derived from the Chippewa word Omaumeg, signifying “people on the peninsula,” but according to their own traditions, it came from the word for pigeon. The name used by themselves, as recorded and often used by early writers, is Twigbtwees, derived from the cry of a crane. Also called: Naked Indians, a common appellation used by the colonists, from a confusion of twanh, twanh, the cry of a crane, with tawa, “naked.” Pkíwi-léni, by the Shawnee, meaning “dust or ashes people.” Sänshkiá-a-rúnû, by the Wyandot, meaning “people dressing finely, or fantastically.” Tawatawas, meaning “naked.” (See Naked … Read more

Methow Indians

Methow Indians were located on Methow River. A detached band called Chilowhist wintered on the Okanogan River between Sand Point and Malott.

Menominee Indians

Menominee Indians were located on and near the Menominee River, Wisconsin, and in Michigan on or about the present location of Mackinac. The Menominee belonged to the Algonquian linguistic family and to the same section as the Cree and Foxes.

Meherrin Indians

Meherrin Tribe: Meaning unknown. Meherrin Connections. The Meherrin belonged to the Iroquoian linguistic family, their closest connections probably being the Nottaway. Meherrin Location. Along the river of the same name on the Virginia-North Carolina border. Meherrin History. The tribal name Meherrin first appears in the form “Maharineck” in the account of an expedition by Edward Blande and others to North Carolina in 1650, and next body Indian census taken in 1669. Later they seem to have adopted a body of Conestoga or Susquehanna fleeing from Pennsylvania after account dispersal by the Iroquois about 1675. This is the only way to … Read more

Massachusetts Indian Tribes

Mahican. The Mahican extended over most of Berkshire County, where they were represented mainly by the Housatonic or Stockbridge Indians. (See New York.) Massachuset. Meaning “at the range of hills,” by which is meant the hills of Milton. Connections. The Massachuset belonged to the Algonquian linguistic stock, their tongue being an n-dialect, and formed one group with the Narraganset, Niantic (East and West), and Wampanoag, and probably the Nauset. Location. In the region of Massachusetts Bay between Salem on the north and Marshfield and Brockton on the south. Later they claimed lands beyond Brockton as far as the Great Cedar … Read more

Maryland Indian Tribes

Mandan Indians

Mandan Indians. Probably a corruption of the Dakota word applied to them, Mawatani. Also called: A-rach-bo-cu, Hidatsa name (Long, 1791) As-a-ka-shi, Us-suc-car-shay, Crow name. How-mox-tox-sow-es, Hidatsa name (?). Kanit’, Arikara name. Kwowahtewug, Ottawa name. Métutahanke, own name since 1837, after their old village. Mo-no’-ni-o, Cheyenne name. Numakaki, own name prior to 1837, meaning “men,” “people.” U-ka’-she, Crow name, meaning “earth houses.” Mandan Connections. The Mandan belonged to the Siouan linguistic stock. Their connections are with the Tutelo and Winnebago rather than the nearer Siouan tribes. Mandan Location. When known to the Whites, the Mandan were on the same part of … Read more

Manahoac Indians

Manahoac Tribe: Meaning “They are very merry,” according to Tooker (1895), but this seems improbable. Also called: Mahocks, apparently a shortened form. Manahoac Connections. The Manaboac belonged to the Siouan linguistic family; their nearest connections were probably the Monacan, Moneton, and Tutelo. Manahoac Location. In northern Virginia between the falls of the rivers and the mountains east and west and the Potomac and North Anna Rivers north and south. Manahoac Subdivisions. Subtribes or tribes of the confederacy as far as known were the following: Hassinunga, on the headwaters of the Rappahannock River. Manahoac proper, according to Jefferson (1801), in Stafford … Read more

Makah Indians

Makah Indians were located about Cape Flattery, claiming the coast east as far as Hoko River and south to Flattery Rocks, besides Tatoosh Island. Later they were confined to the Makah Reservation.

Maine Indian Tribes

Abnaki. Properly Wabanaki, “those living at the sunrise,” “those living at the east,” “easterners.” Also called: Alnânbaǐ, own name, meaning “Indians,” or “men.” Aquannaque, Wabanaki as pronounced by Huron. Bashabas, name given them from a principal chief. Cannon-gageh-ronnons, name given by Mohawk. Moassones, from a name applied to their country; perhaps from Penobscot Maweshenook, “berry place.” Narānkamigdok epitsik arenanbak, “villages of the Narānkamigdog,” said to be a collective name for all the Abnaki villages. Natio Luporum, “Wolf Nation.” Natságana, name given by Caughnawaga Iroquois. Onagungees, Onnogonges, Anagonges, or Owenagunges, name given by the Iroquois. Skacewanilom, name given by the Iroquois. … Read more

Maidu Indians

The Maidu, whose name means “person,” were an indigenous group native to the drainage areas of the Feather and American Rivers in California. Once thought to be an independent linguistic stock, the Maidu have been classified as part of the Penutian language family. The Maidu were divided into three main dialectic groups: the Southern Maidu (Nishinam), the Northeastern Maidu, and the Northwestern Maidu, each occupying distinct geographic regions. Their villages were spread across areas including present-day Sacramento, Chico, and Oroville. The Maidu population, estimated at around 9,000 in the late 18th century, drastically declined over time, with only 93 recorded individuals by 1930. Despite their reduced numbers, the Maidu left a significant cultural legacy in the region.

Machapunga Indians

Machapunga Tribe: Said to mean “bad dust,” or “much dirt,” in the native Algonquian language. Machapunga Connections. The Machapunga belonged to the Algonquian linguistic stock. Machapunga Location. In the present Hyde County and probably also in Washington, Tyrrell and Dare Counties, and part of Beaufort. Machapunga Villages. The only village named is Mattamuskeet (probably on Mattamuskeet Lake in Hyde County). However, we should probably add Secotan on the north bank of Pamlico River in Beaufort County, and perhaps the town of the Bear River Indians. Machapunga History. The Machapunga seem to have embraced the larger part of the descendants of … Read more

Macapiras Indians

Macapiras Tribe, or Amacapiras Tribe. Meaning unknown. A small tribe which was brought to the St. Augustine missions in 1726 along with some Pohoy, and so apparently from the southwest coast. There were only 24, part of whom died and the rest returned to their old homes before 1728.

Lummi Indians

Lummi Indians were located on the upper part of Bellingham Bay and about the mouth of Nooksack River. Formerly the Lummi are said to have resorted at times to a group of islands east of Vancouver Island. They were finally placed on Lummi Reservation.

Luisefio Indians

Luisefio. From the name of the Mission of San Luis Rey de Francia. Also called: Ghecham or Khecham, from the native name of San Luis Rey Mission. Luisefio Connections. The Luiseno belonged to the Shoshonean division of the Uto-Aztecan linguistic family. Luisefio Location. In the southwest part of the state from the coast toward but wholly west of the divide that extends south from Mount San Jacinto; bounded northward by the cognate Juaneno, Gabrielino, and Serrano and south by the Diegueno. Luisefio Villages Ahuya, near the upper course of San Luis Rey River. Akipa, near Kahpa. Alapi, south of the … Read more

Luckiamute Indians

Luckiamute Indians were located on the Luckiamute River in Oregon.