Native American

Mediators between the world of spirits and the world of men may be divided into two classes: The shamans, whose authority was entirely dependent on their individual ability, and the priests, who acted in some measure for the tribe or nation, or at least for some society. Shaman is explained variously as a Persian word meaning ‘pagan’, or, with more likelihood, as the Tungus equivalent for ‘medicine-man’, and was originally applied to the medicine-men or exorcists in Siberian tribes, from which it was extended to similar individuals among the Indian tribes of America. Among the Haida and Tlingit, shamans performed … Read more

It may be doubted whether slavery, though so widespread as to have been almost universal, existed anywhere among very primitive peoples, since society must reach a certain state of organization before it can find lodgment (see Social organization). It appears, however, among peoples whose status is far below that of civilization. Among the Eskimo, slavery appears to have been wholly unknown, although in the part of Alaska immediately N. of the Tlingit, where the Eskimo borrowed much of Indian culture and arts, it is possible that it existed in some form, as Bancroft affirms. Dall discovered no traces of slavery … Read more

An ordeal is strictly a form of trial to determine guilt or innocence, but the term has cone to be applied in a secondary sense to any severe trial or test of courage, endurance, and fortitude. In accordance with these two usages of the term, ordeals among the North American tribes may be divided into: (1) those used to establish guilt and to settle differences, and (2) those undergone for the sake of some material or supernatural advantage. The ordeals corresponding closest to the tests to which the name was originally applied were those undertaken to determine witches or wizards. … Read more

Indian Physiology

The question of the number of the native population of America, and particularly of the United States and British America, at the coming of the white man, has been the subject of much speculation. Extremists on the one hand have imagined a population of millions, while on the other hand the untenable claim has been made, and persistently repeated, that there has been no decrease, but that on the contrary, in spite of removals, wars, epidemics, and dissipation, and the patent fact that the aboriginal population of whole regions has completely disappeared, the Indian has thriven under misfortune and is … Read more

Indian Marriage

Among the Indians personal names were given and changed at the critical epochs of life, such as birth, puberty, the first war expedition, some notable feat, elevation to chieftainship, and, finally, retirement from active life was marked by the adoption of the name of one’s son. In general, names may be divided into two classes: (1) True names, corresponding to our personal names, and (2) names which answer rather to our titles and honorary appellations. The former define or indicate the social group into which a man is born, whatever honor they entail being due to the accomplishments of ancestors, … Read more

Indian Ghost Dance History

Government is the basis of the welfare and prosperity of human society. A government is an organic institution formed to secure the establishment of justice by safeguarding rights and enforcing the performance of duties in accordance with the experience and the established customs and rules of conduct of the governed. The superlative measure of justice obtainable by government is found in the care and protection of the young and the aged, the ready assistance rendered to comrades and the unfortunate, the maintenance of peace, the preservation of the equivalency of rights, the recognition of the equality of persons, the liberty … Read more

Indian Confederation

Since the day when Columbus miscalled the aborigines of America “Indians,” believing that he had discovered India, popular fallacies respecting them have been numerous and widespread. Some of the more important of them will be discussed here. Origin of the Indians As soon as, or even before, the newly discovered continent was found to be not connected with Asia, theories of the origin of the Indians began to be formulated by the learned, and, consistently with the religious spirit of the age, a solution of the problem was sought in Hebrew tradition. In the Indians were recognized the descendants of … Read more

Indian Family

The treatment accorded captives was governed by those limited ethical concepts which went hand in hand with clan, gentile, and other consanguineous organizations of Indian society. From the members of his own consanguineous group, or what was considered such, certain ethical duties were exacted of an Indian which could not be neglected without destroying the fabric of society or outlawing the transgressor. Toward other clans, gentes, or bands of the same tribe his actions were also governed by well recognized customs and usages which had grown up during ages of intercourse, but with remote bands or tribes good relations were … Read more

Among the North American Indians a chief may be generally defined as a political officer whose distinctive functions are to execute the ascertained will of a definite group of persons united by the possession of a common territory or range and of certain exclusive rights, immunities, and obligations, and to conserve their customs, traditions, and religion. He exercises legislative, judicative, and executive powers delegated to him in accordance with custom for the conservation and promotion of the common weal. The wandering band of men with their women and children contains the simplest type of chieftaincy found among the American Indians, … Read more

The subject of Indian child life has been but very lightly treated by ethnologist,, although the child is in fact the strongest bond of family life under a system which allowed polygamy and easy separation. Both parents alike were entirely devoted to their children, and bestowed upon them the fullest expression of affection and solicitude. The relation of parent, to child brings out all the highest traits of Indian character. Among some tribes, notably those of the plains, in anticipation of the new arrival the father prepares the wooden frames of the cradle which is to he its portable bed … Read more

An American Indian clan or gens is an intra-tribal exogamic group of persons either actually or theoretically consanguine, organized to promote their social and political welfare, the members being usually denoted by a common class name derived generally from some fact relating to the habitat of the group or to its usual tutelary being. In the clan lineal descent, inheritance of personal and common property, and the hereditary right to public office and trust are traced through the female line, while in the gens they devolve through the ionic line. Clan and gentile organizations are by no means universal among … Read more

In the various accounts of the American Indian tribes references to formal adoption and incorporation of one people by another are abundant. It is natural that formal adoption as a definite institution was most in vogue wherever the clan and gentile systems were more or less fully developed.