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.

Crow Indians

Crow Indians. A translation, through the French gens des corbeaux, of their own name: Absároke, “crow-, sparrowhawk-, or bird-people.” Also called: Handeruka, Mandan name. Haideroka, Hidatsa name. Hounena, Arapaho name, signifying “crow men.” Issl£ppo’, Siksika name. Kangitoka, Yankton Dakota name. Ka’-xi, Winnebago name. Kihnatsa, Hidatsa name, signifying “they who refused the paunch,” and referring to the tradition regarding the separation of these two tribes. Kokokiwak, Fox name. Long-haired Indians, by Sanford (1819). O-e’-tun’-i-o, Cheyenne name, signifying “crow people.” Par-is-ca-oh-pan-ga, Hidatsa name, signifying “crow people” (Long, 1823). Stemchi, Kalispel name. StBmtchi, Salish name. Stimk, Okinagan name. Yaxka’-a, Wyandot name, signifying “crow.” … Read more

Creek Confederacy

Creek Confederacy. This name is given to a loose organization which constituted the principal political element in the territory of the present States of Georgia and Alabama from very early times, probably as far back as the period of De Soto. It was built around a dominant tribe, or rather a group of dominant tribes, called Muskogee. The name Creek early became attached to these people because when they were first known to the Carolina colonists and for a considerable period afterward the body of them which the latter knew best was living upon a river, the present Ocmulgee, called … Read more

Cowlitz Indians

Cowlitz Indians were located on most of the lower and all the middle course of Cowlitz River. Later they were divided between Chehalis and Puyallup Reservations in Washington State.

Costanoan Indians

The Costanoan Indians, derived from the Spanish term “Costanos” meaning “coast people,” were a group within the Penutian linguistic stock. They inhabited the coastal region between San Francisco Bay and Point Sur, extending inland to the Mount Diablo Range. The Costanoans were divided into several subdivisions, including the Monterey, Saclan, San Francisco, San Juan Bautista, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Soledad groups, each occupying distinct territories. Their villages, such as Ahala-n, Altah-mo, and Aulin-tak, were spread throughout these regions. Historically, the Costanoan population was estimated to be around 7,000 in 1770, but by the early 20th century, only a few mixed-blood descendants remained, with the 1910 census recording just 10 individuals and none in 1930.

Coree Indians

Coree tribe, or Coranine Tribe, Coranine Indians. Meaning unknown. Coree Connections. As the final stage of the Coree existence was passed with an Algonquian tribe, some have thought that the affiliations of  this people were also Algonquian. On the other hand Lawson (1860) that notes that their language and that of a tribe to the north were mutually intelligible and there is a reason for thinking that this northern tribe belonged to the Iroquois Confederacy. At least the Coree were closely associated in many ways with the Iroquoian Tuscarora. Coree Location. On the peninsula south of Neuse River in Carteret … Read more

Copalis Indians

Copalis Indians are located on the Copalis River and the Pacific Coast between the mouth of Joe Creek and Grays Harbor.

Congaree Indians

Congaree Tribe: Meaning unknown. Congaree Connection. No words of this language have been preserved but the form of the name and general associations of the tribe leave little doubt that it was a Siouan dialect, related most closely to Catawba. Congaree Location. On Congaree River, centering in the neighborhood of the present State Capital, Columbia. Congaree Villages. The only village mentioned bore the same name as the tribe and was sometimes placed on the Congaree opposite Columbia, sometimes on the north side of the river. Congaree History. The Congaree are mentioned in documents of the seventeenth century as one of … Read more

Colville Indians

Colville Indians are located on Colville River and that part of the Columbia between Kettle Falls and Hunters.

Columbia Indians

The Sinkiuse Indians / Columbia Indians lived on the east side of Columbia River from Fort Okanogan to the neighborhood of Point Eaton.

Clowwewalla Indians

Clowwewalla Indians were located at the falls of Willamette River in Oregon.

Clatsop Indians

Clatsop Indians. The Clatsop centered about Cape Adams, on the south side of Columbia River, extending up the latter as far as Tongue Point and southward on the Pacific coast to Tillamook Head.

Clatskanie Indians

Clatskanie Indians. According to Gibbs (1877) the Clatskanie at one time owned the prairies bordering Chehalis River, Washington, at the mouth of Skookumchuck River, but on the failure of game, crossed the Columbia and occupied the mountains about Clatskanie River, their best-known historic seat. For a long time they exacted toll of all who passed going up or down the Columbia.

Clallam Indians

Clallam Indians were located on the south side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, between Port Discovery and Hoko River. Later the Clallam occupied the Chimakum territory also and a small number lived on the lower end of Vancouver Island.

Chumash Indians

The Chumash Indians, initially known as the Santa Rosa islanders and often referred to as the Santa Barbara Indians, are part of the larger Hokan linguistic family. They inhabited the northern islands of the Santa Barbara group and the coastal regions from Malibu Canyon to Estero Bay, extending inland to the coastal ranges. The Chumash were divided into several subdivisions, including the Barbarefio, Cuyama, Emigdiano, Island, Obispefio, Purisimeiio, Santa Ynez, and Venturefio Chumash, each occupying distinct territories. Numerous villages, such as A’hwai, Ala-hulapun, and A’ash, among many others, were scattered across these regions. Historical estimates of the Chumash population in 1770 place it at around 10,000, but by the early 20th century, their numbers had dramatically dwindled, with only 38 individuals recorded in the 1910 census and 14 in 1930.

Chowanoc Indians

Chowanoc Tribe: Meaning in Algonquian “(people) at the south.” Chowanoc Connections. The Chowanoc belonged to the Algonquian linguistic family and were evidently most nearly allied to the other North Carolina Algonquians. Chowanoc Location. On Chowan River about the junction of Meherrin and Blackwater Rivers. Chowanoc Villages Catoking, (probably) near Gatesville, in Gates County. Maraton, on the east bank of Chowan River in Chowan County. Metocaum, on Chowan River in the present Bertie County. Ohanoak, on the west side of Chowan River not far below Nottoway River probably in Hertford County. Ramushonok, apparently between the Meherrin and Nottoway Rivers in Hertford … Read more

Chitimacha Indians

Chitimacha Tribe: Perhaps derived from the name of Grand River in the native tongue, which was Sheti, though Gatschet (1883) interprets it through the Choctaw language as meaning “those who have pots.” Chitimacha Connections. The Chitimacha have given their name to a group of languages under the Tunican linguistic stock, including also the Chawasha and Washa. Chitimacha Location. On Grand River, Grand Lake, and the lower course of Bayou La Teche. Chitimacha Villages The earliest French writers couple with this tribe the name of a tribe or supposed tribe called Yakna-Chitto, “Big Earth,” but it is not known whether they … Read more