Indian Tribes of North America

Swanton, John R. The Indian Tribes of North America. Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 145. Washington DC: US Government Printing Office. 1953.

Hidatsa Indians

Hidatsa Indians. Derived from the name of a former village and said, on somewhat doubtful authority, to signify “willows.” Also called: A-gutch-a-ninne-wug, Chippewa name, meaning “the settled people.” A-me-she’, Crow name, meaning “people who live in earth houses.” Gi-aucth-in-in-e-wug, Chippewa name, meaning “men of the olden time.” Gros Ventres of the Missouri, traders’ name, probably derived from the sign for them in the sign language. Hewaktokto, Dakota name. Minitari, meaning “they crossed the water,” said to have been given to them by the Mandan, from the tradition of their first encounter with the tribe on the Missouri. Wa-nuk’-e-ye’-na, Arapaho name, … Read more

Hatteras Indians

Hatteras Tribe: Meaning unknown. Linguistic Connections – The Hatteras belonged to the Algonquian linguistic family. Hatteras Location. Among the sandbanks about Cape Hatteras east of Pamlico Sound and frequenting Roanoke Island. Hatteras Village. Sandbanks, on Hatteras Island. Hatteras History. Lawson (1860) thought the Hatteras showed traces of White blood and therefore they may have been the Croatan Indians with whom Raleigh’s colonists are supposed to have taken refuge. They disappeared soon after as a distinct tribe and united with the mainland Algonquians. In 1761, the Rev. Alex. Stewart baptized 7 Indians and mixed-blood children of the” Attamuskeet, Hatteras, and Roanoke” … Read more

Hanis Indians

Hanis Indians were located on Coos River and Bay in Oregon.

Guacata Indians

Guacata Tribe – Meaning unknown. Guacata Connections. On the evidence furnished by place names in this section, the tribe is classified with the south Florida peoples. Guacata Location. On or near Saint Lucie River in Saint Lucie and Palm Beach Counties. Guacata History.-The Guacata are first mentioned by Fontaneda (1854), who in one place speaks of them as on Lake Mayaimi (Okeechobee), but this probably means only that they ranged across to the lake from the eastern seacoast. Shortly after his conquest of Florida Menendez left 200 men in the Ais country, but the Indians of that tribe soon rose … Read more

Grigra Indians

Grigra Tribe: Said to have been given them from the frequent occurrence of these two syllables in their speech. They sometimes appear as the “Gray Village” of the Natchez. Grigra Connections. The fact that the language of this tribe contained an r suggests a probable relationship with the tribes of the Tunican group. Grigra Location. When first known to us, it formed one of the Natchez villages on St. Catherines Creek, Mississippi. Grigra Villages. Only one village is mentioned called by a shorter form of the name given to the tribe, Gris or Gras. Grigra History. The Grigra had been … Read more

Georgia Indian Tribes

The following tribes at one time are recorded in history as having resided within the present state of Georgia. If the tribe name is in bold, then Georgia is the primary location known for this tribe, otherwise we provide the tribes specifics as it pertains to Georgia and then provide a link to the main tribal page. Apalachee Indians After the English and Creeks destroyed the Apalachee towns in Florida in 1704, they established a part of the tribe in a village not far below the present Augusta. In 1715, when the Yamasee war broke out, these Apalachee joined the … Read more

Gabrielino Indians

The Gabrielino Indians, named after the San Gabriel Mission in Los Angeles County, were also known as Kizh, Playsanos, Tobikhars, and Tumangamalum. Their closest relatives were the Fernandeno, and both groups were part of the California branch of the Shoshonean Division of the Uto-Aztecan stock. The Gabrielino inhabited the drainage area of the San Gabriel River, the Los Angeles region, and southward into Orange County, including Santa Catalina Island and likely San Clemente Island. They established numerous villages, such as Ahau near the Los Angeles River, Akura near San Gabriel Mission, and Pimu on Santa Catalina Island. In 1770, their population, including the Fernandeno and Nicoleno, was estimated at around 5,000, but by 1922 were nearly extinct.

Fresh Water Indians

The Fresh Water Tribe, also known as “Agna Dulce,” refers to the inhabitants of several towns in eastern Florida between St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral. These towns included Anacape, Antonico, Maiaca, and several others, although not all native names have been preserved. This region’s history mirrors that of other Timucua provinces, with notable events including Ponce de Leon’s arrival in 1513 and the establishment of Spanish missions in the 17th century. The population saw a rapid decline following early conversions to Christianity. By 1602, 300 individuals from this district had been Christianized or were under instruction.

Fox Indians

Fox Indians. A name thought to have been derived from that of the Fox clan and to have been applied to the tribe through a misunderstanding. Also called: Beshde’ke, Dakota name. Meshkwa kihig’, own name signifying “red earth people,” from the kind of earth from which they are supposed to have been created. O-dug-am-eeg, Chippewa name, meaning “those who live on the opposite side. Skaxshurunu, Wyandot name, meaning “fox people.” Skuakisagi, Shawnee name. To-che-wah-coo, probably the Arikara name. Wakusheg, Potawatomi name, meaning “foxes.” Fox Connections. The Foxes belonged to the Algonquian linguistic family and in one group with the Sauk … Read more

Florida Indian Tribes

The following tribes at one time are recorded in history as having resided within the present state of Florida. If the tribe name is in bold, then Florida is the primary location known for this tribe, otherwise we provide the tribes specifics as it pertains to Florida and then provide a link to the main tribal page. Acuera Indians Aguacaleyquen Indians, see Utina. Ais Indians Alabama Indians Early in the eighteenth century the Pawokti, and perhaps some other Alabama bands, lived near Apalachicola River, whence they were driven in 1708. After the Creek-American War a part of the Alabama again … Read more

Erie Indians

Erie Tribe: Meaning in Iroquois, “long tail,” and referring to the panther, from which circumstance they are often referred to as the Cat Nation. Also called: GA-quA’-ga-o-no, by L. H. Morgan (1851). Erie Connection. The Erie belonged to the Iroquoian linguistic family. Erie Location. All of northern Ohio, except possibly the northwestern corner, and in portions of northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York. In the southeastern part of the State they perhaps reached the Ohio River. (See also Indiana, New York, and Pennsylvania.) Erie Villages: The names of but two villages are known, Gentaienton and Riqué. There are supposed to … Read more

Eno Indians

The Eno tribe, likely of Siouan linguistic stock, was historically situated along the Eno River in present-day Orange and Durham Counties, North Carolina. Their exact origins remain unclear, with some doubts raised about their classification due to unique characteristics. Closely associated with the Shakori tribe, the Eno shared a village named Adshusheer, located near modern-day Hillsboro. First mentioned in 1645, they were noted for resisting Spanish advances and later appeared in colonial records as part of a confederation with other tribes like the Saponi and Occaneechi. By 1714, they began migrating toward Virginia, eventually settling in South Carolina, where they likely merged with the Catawba. The tribe’s name endures in several geographic features, including the Eno River and Enoree River, reflecting their historical presence in the region.

Duwamish Indians

Duwamish Indians. The Duwamish tribe was located in Washington state, primarily along the Duwamish River and Seattle area. The Duwamish belonged to the Nisqually dialectic group of the coast division of the Salishan linguistic stock.

Diegueño Indians

The Diegueño Indians, named after the Mission of San Diego, are part of the Central division of the Yuman linguistic group and are closely related to the Kamia and Kiliwa, forming a branch of the Hokan stock. They are divided into two main groups: the Northern Diegueño, located in the eastern part of San Diego County and extending into Baja California, and the Southern Diegueño, found in areas such as Campo, La Posta, Manzanita, Guyapipe, and La Laguna, along with some Baja California territories. Their villages were spread across various locations, including notable ones like La Laguna, San Dieguito River, Carrizo, and the headwaters of San Diego and Sweetwater Rivers. Historical population estimates indicate around 3,000 Diegueño and Kamia individuals in 1770, which had declined to between 700 and 800 by 1925, with the 1930 census recording 322 individuals.

Delaware Indian Tribes

Delaware Indians. The Unalachtigo division of the Delaware occupied all of the northern parts of this State when it was first visited by Europeans. (See New Jersey Indian Tribes.) Nanticoke Indians. Bodies of Indians classed, under this general head extended into the southern and western sections. Unalachtigo and Nanticoke are two forms of the same word though, as differentiated, they have been applied to distinct tribes. (See Maryland Indian Tribes.)  

Dakubetede Indians

The Dakubetede Indians were an Athapascan tribe located in Oregon, with their territory extending slightly into northern California. They were known by several names, including the Applegate River Indians due to their habitat, Ni’ckitc hitclûm by the Alsea, meaning “people far up the stream,” and Ts’û-qûs-li’-gwûût-me’ tunne by the Naltûnnetûnne. They spoke a dialect identical to that of the Taltushtuntude. The Dakubetede lived along the Applegate River, and in 1780, Mooney estimated that they, along with related groups, numbered around 3,200, though the Dakubetede themselves were not separately enumerated.

Dakota Indians

Dakota Indians. The earliest known home of this tribe was on and near the Mississippi in southern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, and neighboring parts of Iowa. In 1825, after they had spread somewhat farther west, Long (1791) gives their boundaries thus: They were bounded by a curved line extending east of north from Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi, so as to include all the eastern tributaries of the Mississippi, to the first branch of Chippewa River; thence by a line running west of north to Spirit Lake; thence westwardly to Crow Wing River, Minn., and up that stream to its head; thence westwardly to Red River and down that stream to Pembina; thence southwestwardly to the eastern bank of the Missouri near the Mandan villages; thence down the Missouri to a point probably not far from Soldiers River; thence east of north to Prairie du Chien. At a later time they occupied less territory toward the east but extended much farther westward between the Yellowstone and Platte Rivers.

Cusabo Indians

Cusabo Tribe: Meaning perhaps “Coosawhatchie River (people).” Cusabo Connections. There is little doubt that the Cusabo belonged to the Muskhogean linguistic family. Their closest connections appear to have been with the Indians of the Georgia coast, the Guale. Cusabo Location.—In the southernmost part of South Carolina between Charleston Harbor and Savannah River and including most of the valleys of the Ashley, Edisto, Ashepoo, Combahee, Salkehatchie, and  Coosawhatchie Rivers. Cusabo Subdivisions. These people should be divided first into the Cusabo proper, who occupied all the coast, and the Coosa, who were inland upon the rivers above mentioned. The Cusabo proper seem … Read more