american indians

[fodge]

how many tribes were there and how many are left ?

[Clanad]

There's no way of knowing, historically, how many tribes existed. Many, over centuries, became affiliated and then absorbed into larger groups and many simply disappeared. Today, exact enumeration is still nearly impossible. There are well over 200 hunderd tribes identified. Problem is, many are related historically. For example, I'm familiar with the Tsi-Tsi-Tas, or Cheyenne. There are at least two divisions, the Northern and Southern Tribes. At one time, probably over 300 years ago, they originated somehwere near the Great Lakes of the U.S., but migrated west. It was only later, probably about 1750 or so, that they came to realize the similarities in their language and historical memories. The latest Census figure indicate nearly 4 million people indicate Indian heritage, but this may not mean they are enrolled members of given tribes. Sorry, more exact figures are not avialable...

[mrspswayze]

Amongst the many books and pictures I have inherited from my Dad on Native Americans, there is an excellent one called 500 Nations by Alvin M. Josephy, Jnr, ISBN 0-7126-7421-7, it is particularly detailed on the structure of the Nations. You may find it useful.

[Octavius]

The collective term 'native american' encompasses a large number of distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of them still enduring as political communities. Currently there are 563 Federally recognized tribal governments in the US. The US recognizes the right of these tribes to self-government and supports their tribal sovereignty and self-determination. These tribes possess the right to form their own government; to enforce laws, both civil and criminal; to tax; to establish membership; to license and regulate activities; to zone; and to exclude persons from tribal territories.

As well as native americans of the US, you must also remember the native americans of Alaska, including Eskimo-Aleut peoples (Inuit and Yupik Eskimo peoples, Aleuts), and Athabascan, Eyak, Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian peoples. Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders (e.g. Chamorros, Marshallese), but also other Pacific nations.

See this page for a detailed list of known idigenous peoples to the american continent:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classification_of_Native_Americans

[fodge]

Thanks for the terrific amount of information, I have enough to keep me interested for a very long time.

Cheers Fodge