Intro: Documentaries about Native Americans Culture
The Native American people, or Native Americans, are the indigenous peoples of the Americas. These cultures are often labeled as "pre-Columbian" because they existed before contact with Europeans. The term can also be used to refer to all Native American cultures, which includes both historic and contemporary groups.
While all cultures are fascinating, there is something so special about Native American culture. It’s hard to put your finger on what makes them so captivating because they’re unique in their beliefs and customs. However, the way that they live their lives is different from mainstream society. For instance, many of them are still moving around a lot because they believe it’s important to be close to nature. What are some other beliefs that make Native American culture wonderful?
From creation myths to rituals, Native Americans believe in a world where all living things are sacred and interconnected. One of the most important beliefs that make Native American culture wonderful is their belief that everything has a spirit or soul. Another belief that makes the culture so amazing is that they honor and respect all living things. These are just some of the wonderful beliefs that make this beautiful culture so special.
Also, many Native Americans believe in communicating with animals and plants around them. These beliefs can be seen in rituals like dances and storytelling.
With this attitude, they’re able to provide a well-balanced life for themselves that has respect for all living being.
The Native Americans lived in North America before European settlers came to the continent and brought with them different cultures and languages.
The original inhabitants of the Americas before Europeans arrived, the Native American tribes occupied almost all land that was not covered by ice during the last ice age. As many as 3 million Native Americans may have lived in the territory that is now the United States, but diseases brought by Europeans killed about 90 percent of these people between their arrival in 1492 and 1900. In addition to warring with one another, they often clashed with colonists from Europe.
The Native American tribe is an integral part of each individual's identity. The tribes are organized into three basic divisions: Eastern, Southern, and Western. Moving from east to west, the Eastern division consists of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, and Chickasaw tribes; the Southern division includes the Chocktaw, Seminole-Creek, Natchez-Cherokee, Caddo-Delaware, and Shawnee tribes; and the Western division is made up of Apache-Yuman peoples. These different types of tribes have shaped who they are today.
It has been said that there are more than 500 Native American tribes in existence. The tribes were divided by geographical location across the United States and Canada.
In this post, we'll dive into some of the most fascinating documentaries about native americans culture. Let's get started!
1. From Caves to Cosmos: Native America Documentary - Part 1
In the first episode of the new series, From Caves to Cosmos: Native America, premiering on PBS's "Nova," archaeologists explore some of the most spectacular caves in the world and find a treasure trove of drawings left by ancient artists.
Through these extraordinary images, we learn about a culture that thrived on this continent for millennia, and yet has remained a mystery.
A 15,000-year-old question is answered with the help of ancient wisdom and modern science. This answer hides in Amazonian cave paintings, Mexican burial chambers, Chaco Canyon in New Mexico and off California’s coast.
2. Nature to Nations Native America Documentary - Part 2
This second part explores the dramatic transformation of Native American society from monarchies, where power was concentrated in a single person, to democracies, where power is dispersed among many people.
3. Cities Of The Sky: Native America Documentary - Part 3
Native Americans have an extraordinary history in the New World, one that stretches back thousands of years. The third episode in this four-part series tells how America's indigenous people mastered the skies with architectural marvels like the extensive cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde, Colorado.
We'll also follow scholars and archaeologists as they explore the remains of Cahokia, a centuries-old Native American metropolis. The show also dives deep into how and why this civilization thrived and declined.
4. New World Rising: Native American Documentary - Part 4
PBS and American Public Television's Native America series tells the story of how Native Americans and settlers lived in the early days of colonial America. The series begins at the time of first contact with Europeans and ends with the United States victory in the Indian Wars, a period of nearly 200 years.
In this episode, we meet members of the Delaware Nation who have been living on a reservation for centuries. We also examine their traditional culture and see how it has been revived by a new generation.
5. America's Great Indian Nations
This is a comprehensive history of six great Indian nations, brought to life through dramatic reenactments. Their stories unfold in their struggle for land and culture as they try to survive against the odds. The series is filmed on location at their native tribal lands across America with footage from archival sources and original music by Louis L'Amour's grandson, Nicholas Rey-Lopez.
This story of how diverse tribes conquered all obstacles--colonialism, wars with white settlers...tribal divisions--to create a new kind of patriotism before being crushed by racism will resonate today when we need it most..
6. Indigenous People of America
In this documentary, we explore the history and culture of Indigenous People in America. We'll look at how the European settlers came to America, and what happened to the original inhabitants of this land.
We'll also take a closer look into Native American tribes and their beliefs and customs.
7. Broken Treaties - Documentaries about Native American Culture
Thousands of years ago, more than 60 Native American tribes lived in Oregon's diverse ecological regions. At least 18 languages were spoken across hundreds of villages. This civilizational fabric became unraveled only a few short decades after contact with settlers from Europe in the 19th century.
In this documentary about native americans' culture, Native Oregonians reflect on what changed.
8. The Dark Secrets of The Ancient Anasazi - Native American Documentary
The Ancient Anasazi have been a source of fascination for many centuries. Their advanced architecture, elaborate artwork and sophisticated knowledge about astronomy and agriculture have led some experts to call them "America's first civilization".
In this documentary we take a look at the dark secrets of the ancient people that lived in the Four Corners region of the United States. We'll cover how they lived, their culture and what happened to them.
A recent discovery has shed some light on whether the native Americans were cannibals. New discoveries reveal that the Anasazi tribe killed and ate their victims. Investigations further afield have found evidence of cannibalism in Mexico and Cheddar Gorge in England, too.
9. Native Americans Lakota Sioux History Full Documentary
The Sioux are the Native Americans who live in the Great Plains. They are part of the Siouan language family, which also includes other native peoples, such as the Mississippi Choctaw and the Mandan.
The name “Sioux” is a French word which means ‘little snakes.’ The Sioux people call themselves Dakȟóta or Dakota, meaning ‘allies.’
This group has many different sub-tribes, including Lakota (or Teton), Oglala (or Bad Face), Sisitonwan (or Brulé), Hunkpapa (or Blackfeet), Miniconjou (or Two Kettles), Yankton, Santee, and Eastern Dakota.
Before the 20th century, the Sioux were a nomadic people who hunted buffalo in what are now North and South Dakota. They were divided into several tribes with different customs. The Santee are the largest group. They lived around Lake Pepin in eastern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois.The Lakota lived mainly in what is now northwest South Dakota. The Teton Sioux, or Western Sioux, lived in central North Dakota and Montana. The Blackfoot tribe lived in an area that includes parts of South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana.The Ojibwa tribe was found mainly in what is now Minnesota and other areas east of the Mississippi River.
10. The Muscogee (Creek) Peoples & Confederation: History, Culture & The Muscogee Trail Of Tears
The Muscogee Creek Nation consists of about 12,000 Native Americans and is the largest federally recognized tribe in Oklahoma. The tribe has three distinct groups: the Upper Creeks, living in Alabama and Georgia; the Lower Creeks, living in Oklahoma; and the Middle Creek, who live in North Carolina.
The Muscogee Creek Nation was one of the first five tribes to sign treaties with the United States government. In 1832, they signed a treaty that ceded their lands to whites and moved to this area to start a new life. That same year, they established a capital for themselves at Okmulgee near present-day Tulsa.
Today, the Muscogee Creek Nation is governed by a Principal Chief and a Tribal Council. The current Principal Chief is James Floyd-Thomas. They have two casinos on their land -- Big Cedar Casino and Creek Casino & Hotel -- which generate revenue for their nation's schools, social services programs and cultural programs.
11. The Apache People & Nations: Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Salinero, Plains and Western
The Apache tribe is a group of Native American Athabascans who migrated into the Southwest around 1500, settling mainly in the region that includes eastern Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas.
At first, they were primarily hunters and gatherers. But with the arrival of the horse in 1750, their culture began to change dramatically. They became skilled warriors whose exploits made them among the most fearsome foes ever known on this continent. The Apache tribe historically consisted of several autonomous groups that today are federally recognized as Apache tribes within their respective reservations or rancherias: Jicarilla Apache Tribe (Northern), Mescalero Apache Tribe (Southern), Chiricahua Apache Tribe (Southern), Tonto Apache Tribe (Southern), White Mountain Apache Tribe (Eastern) and Western Apache Tribes (Western).
Apache tradition is a highly spiritual and religious one. In this tribe, spiritualism is not viewed as a religion or philosophy, but rather as a way of life. Apache people believe that their Creator has power over everything- from the soil to the sky to the animals that roam this earth. They also believe that in order to receive blessings, they must return these gifts by living in harmony with nature and treating others with respect. One way to achieve this peace is through prayer. Apache people perform rituals, chant prayers, and offer gifts in order to maintain balance between themselves and their environment. These are some of the beliefs of Apache tradition
12. Navajo - Documentary about Native American
The Navajo Nation is a Native American tribe and we reside in the four-state area of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. We're the largest federally recognized nation in the United States. We're also considered to be one of the most successful tribes in the United States. For example, we have one of the highest percentages of people with health insurance.
We also have our own tribal courts and a police force that is funded and staffed by our own citizens.
Navajo culture is rich and unique with various ceremonies, beliefs and customs handed down from generation to generation. You can see our influence in modern life through our arts and crafts, language and songs sung at ceremonial events like the Blessing Way or Yei Be Chei (Winter Solstice).
We're an ancient people with a very rich heritage that continues to evolve today.
13. History of the Indian War
The history of Native American Wars is long and complicated, spanning many centuries. One of the first recorded wars was the Pequot War in 1637. It was a conflict that took place between the Pequot Indians and English settlers in what is now Connecticut. There were other conflicts that followed including King Philip's War, the Revolutionary War, and many other battles over the years. This documentary will cover some of the major aspects of these wars to help you gain a better understanding of this tumultuous part of this history.
Conclusions: Documentaries about Native American Culture
Native American culture is so complex and intricate. It’s difficult to do it justice in just one article, but here are some things that might help you understand it better.The history of the Native American is one of great triumphs and deep losses. For centuries, they were subjected to extreme violence and displacement. They were forced to assimilate into the dominant culture which resulted in cultural loss. Despite everything, the tribes have managed to preserve their languages, customs, myths, legends, dance styles, music, arts, crafts and religious beliefs for over 10 thousand years.Native Americans are some of the most generous people on this planet. We can learn a lot from them about life on earth by respecting their culture and way of life.
Hope you enjoyed this collection of documentaries about Native Americans Culture!
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