Native American

The list of items below have been tagged as part of the Native American historical collection here at AccessGenealogy.

Characteristics of Pamunkey Indians

No member of the Pamunkey tribe is of full Indian blood. While the copper- colored skin and the straight, coarse hair of the aboriginal American show decidedly in some individuals, there are others whose Indian origin would not be detected by the ordinary observer. There has been considerable intermixture of white blood in the tribe, and not a little of that of the Negro, though the laws of the tribe now strictly prohibit marriage to persons of African descent. No one who visits the Pamunkey could fail to notice their race pride. Though they would probably acknowledge the whites as … Read more

Yuman Tribe

The Yuman Indians were a significant linguistic group historically occupying the southwestern United States and northern Baja California. Their territory included the Colorado River valley, the lower Gila River valley, and southern California. The Yuman tribes were known for their diverse cultural practices and varying levels of social organization, with the northern tribes, like the Mohave and Yuma, displaying more advanced agricultural practices and craftsmanship compared to their southern counterparts. Despite the harsh environments they inhabited, many Yuman groups developed distinct social structures, engaged in agriculture, and produced fine basketry and pottery. Their population in the early 20th century was approximately 3,700 within the United States. The Yuman tribes included well-known groups like the Cocopa, Diegueño, Maricopa, and Havasupai, while several smaller tribes have either become extinct or lost their distinct identities.

Tionontati Tribe

Tionontati Indians – Tionontati First Nation (‘there the mountain stands.’ – Hewitt). A tribe formerly living in the mountains south of Nottawasaga bay, in Grey and Simcoe Counties, Ontario.

Winnebago Tribe

Winnebago Indians, Winnebago Nation (winǐpig, ‘filthy water’ [Chippewa]; winǐpyägohagi, ‘people of the filthy water’ [Sauk and Fox]. W. J.) A tribe of the Siouan linguistic family. Winnebago Tribe History The Winnebago have been known to the whites since 1634, when the Frenchman Nicollet found them in Wisconsin, on Green bay, at which time they probably extended to Lake Winnebago. At this period they were found wedged in by Central Algonquian tribes, particularly by the Sauk and Foxes and the Menominee. To the west they were in intimate contact with a kindred tribe, the Iowa, who in turn were neighbors of the … Read more

Tawehash Tribe

Tawehash Indians (Ta-we’-hash, commonly known in early Spanish writings as Taovayas.) A principal tribe of the Wichita confederacy, distinct from the Wichita proper, although the terms are now used as synonymous. By the middle of the 18th century they had settled on upper Red river, where they remained relatively fixed for about a hundred years. Rumors of a tribe called the Teguayos, or Aijaos, who may have been the Tawehash, reached New Mexico from the east early in the 17th century . The Toayas found by La Harpe in 1719 on Canadian river with the Touacara (Tawakoni), Ousitas (Wichita), and … Read more

Wichita Tribe

Wichita Indians, Wichita  Confederacy. A confederacy of Caddoan stock, closely related linguistically to the Pawnee, and formerly ranging from about the middle Arkansas river, Kansas, southward to Brazos river, Texas, of which general region they appear to be the aborigines; antedating the Comanche, Kiowa, Mescaleros, and Siouan tribes. They now reside in Caddo County, west Oklahoma, within the limits of the former Wichita Reservation. The name Wichita, by which they are commonly known, is of uncertain origin and etymology. They call themselves Kitikiti’sh (Kirikirish), a name also of uncertain meaning, but probably, like so many proper tribal names, implying preeminent … Read more

Yscanis Tribe

Yscanis Indians. A tribe of the Wichita confederacy; they were entirely distinct from the Asinais (Hasinai), though the names of the two tribes have been confused. It is possible that the Ysconis, or Isconis, reported to Domingo de Mendoza in 1684 among the tribes awaiting him somewhere in central or east Texas, were the Yscanis . In 1719 LaHarpe visited them (the “Ascanis”) on Canadian river, where they were living a settled life with the Wichita, Taovayas (Tawehash), and Tawakoni. LaHarpe also reported another village of the Ascanis 60 leagues farther to the north west . Little more is heard … Read more

Washo Tribe

Washo Indians (from washiu, ‘person,’ in their own language – Kroeber). A small tribe, forming a distinct linguistic family, the Washoan, which, when first known to Americans, occupied Truckee River, Nevada, as far down as the Meadows, though their right to the latter was disputed by the Mono. The Washo also held Carson river down to the first large canyon below Carson City, the borders of Lake Tahoe, and Sierra and other valleys as far as the first range south of Honey Lake, California, the mountains being resorted to only in summer. There are some evidences that they once were … Read more

Wenrohronon Tribe

1670 Herrmann's map of Virginia and Maryland

The suggested meaning of the name would seem to indicate that the Wenrohronon may have lived in the vicinity of the famous on spring of the town of Cuba, Allegany county, N. Y., described as a filthy, stagnant pool, about 20 ft in diameter, without an outlet. The tribe was likely part of the Cat Nation referred to by the Jesuits in their journals.