Homework Links: Indigenous Tribes / Native Peoples

New Jersey Tribes / Native Peoples

FACTS ON FILE: AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY - Online resources covering more than 15,000 years of Native North American culture, history, and heritage. Browse the biographies, events & topics, primary sources, timelines, images, or maps & charts; or view learning centers arranged by time period or North American culture area; you'll find information about the LENNI LENAPE in the Northeast section of the North American culture area. If you're using this resource at home, you'll have to login with your library card barcode to begin.

World Almanac for Kids - Resources for homework, reports, and projects in a fun format from a trusted source; written for students in 4th - 8th grade. Covers a wide range of topics, including a Native American Life section (in TOPICS, under SOCIAL STUDIES). If you're using this resource at home, you'll have to enter your library card barcode to begin.

Delaware Nation (Lenni Lenape) - Official tribal website. Includes a brief history of the tribe.

Lenni Lenape History - History of the Lenni Lenape tribe in the Ramapo Mountains. (Wanaque Public Library)

Nanticoke Lenni Lenape - Tribal homepage of the Nanticoke Lenni Lenape of New Jersey, includes a brief history of the tribe and a related Museum and Learning Center website.

Other Tribes / Native Peoples of the Americas

See also:
U.S. HISTORY

FACTS ON FILE: AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY - Online resources covering more than 15,000 years of Native North American culture, history, and heritage. Browse the biographies, events & topics, primary sources, timelines, images, or maps & charts; or view learning centers arranged by time period or North American culture area. If you're using this resource at home, you'll have to login with your library card barcode to begin.

American Indian Archery Technology (Ancient Technology Series) [Archived page] - Explores prehistoric methods of making and using bows & arrows, as well as the production of bone tools, ground stone tools, flintknapping, and prehistoric pottery (2011, University of Iowa). Native Tech examines many aspects of traditional Native American life, including Beads & Beadwork, Birds & Feathers, Clay & Pottery, Leather & Clothes, Stonework & Tools. Also offers a poems and stories, and a large collection of Native American recipes [Archived page, may be slow to load] (by Tara Prindle; site includes advertisements). Middle school and up.

American Indian Museum: Native Knowlege 360° VIDEO - Explore different aspects of Native American history and culture using digital lessons, teacher guides, websites, videos, Did You Know? (Q & A), and more. (Smithsonian Institution)

American Indian Removal: What Does It Mean to Remove a People? - Perspectives from Native American community members, documents, maps, images, and activities to help students and teachers understand the vast scope and effects of American Indian removal (National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution). Cherokee Removal describes the removal of the Cherokee Nation from its ancestral home to land set aside for American Indians in what is now Oklahoma. Some 100,000 American Indians were forced to move, and thousands died on the long journey (2004, Georgia Humanities Council et al.). See also The Cherokee Nation and the Fight Against Removal [Archived page] (by students at Michigan State University), and Trail of Tears (2020, National Park Service). Middle school and up.

Ancient Observatories - See Solar Astronomy links, below.

Arts of Native America: Beauty Surrounds Us [Link opens a PDF] - Celebrates the beauty found in objects made by Native people, from everyday tools and games to ceremonial regalia; middle school and up (2006, Smithsonian Institution). Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists VIDEO includes an online gallery and videos exploring the artistic achievements of Native women (2020, Smithsonian Institution). See also Arts Alive: Indigenous Arts UPDATED LINK! VIDEO (National Arts Centre of Canada).

Canada: Aboriginal Canadians FAQ [Archived page] - A primer on Canada's indigenous peoples. Use the 'IN DEPTH' menu to choose additional topics (2005, CBC News; site includes advertisments). For more on these and other native Canadian peoples, see Learn about Indigenous peoples, culture and history in Canada UPDATED LINK! [Archived page] for ages 8 - 11 & First Nations in Canada for high school students, and Learning resources about First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada NEW!(Government of Canada).

Cherokee Removal - See American Indian Removal and related links, above.

The Columbian Exchange VIDEO - 'Columbus's voyage connected the Americas, Europe, and Africa in a web of exchange that transformed the environments of the Old World and the New World.' This video examines the impacts of that exchange (Khan Academy). See also Columbian Exchange: Primary Source Set, which includes a teaching guide (Digital Public Library of America), and Plagues and Peoples, below.

Indian Converts - 'This website contains study guides with information about life on Martha's Vineyard for both Wampanoags and white settlers as well as an accompanying online archive with over 600 images and documents.' High school and up. (2008, Reed College and Laura Arnold Leibman)

Maya - Explores the Maya people & culture, past and present (2012, Smithsonian Institution). Maya Ball [Link opens a PDF] explores the origins of team sports in early Maya culture. For middle school students (Penn Museum, University of Pennsylvania).

Native American Booklist - Recommended children's books about Native Americans (National Education Association; hosted on WorldCat). See also Books for Children & Young Adults: American Indian / Alaska Native Heritage (Colorín Colorado). See our Native American Stories reading list for kids' books at the South Plainfield Public Library. To find more books (fiction & non-fiction) about Native Americans, see NoveList [Login required] for the subject 'Indians of North America'; you can refine the results list by age group, genre, time period, and more.

Native American Citizenship [Click or tap NEXT to navigate] - It was not until well into the 20th century that a large group of native-born people were given U.S. citizenship. This site explains more about the history of U.S. policy toward Native Americans; includes a timeline. Middle school and up (Nebraska Department of Education et al).

Native American Foods - See Native American Foods: History of Traditional Tribal Foods.

Native American Heritage Month AUDIO VIDEO - A collection of resources on different aspects of Native American culture and history; high school and up (Library of Congress et al.). National Archives: Native American Heritage Month VIDEO contains links to a variety of resources, including primary documents, blog posts & articles, videos, and online exhibits; high school and up (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration).

Native American Home Pages: National Congress of American Indians - An up-to-date Tribal Directory; includes sections on Associate Organizations, Tribal Organizations, and Alaska Native Corporations.

Native Americans and the U.S. Military - An overview of Native American participation in American armed forces, plus Contributions of American Indians to the U.S. Navy (U.S. Navy). See also Why We Serve: Native Americans in the U.S. Armed Forces (2020, Smithsonian). Native Words, Native Warriors AUDIO describes the American Indian Code Talkers who joined the United States armed forces during World War II and used their traditional tribal languages to develop secret battle communications for sending important messages in combat (2020, Smithsonian); see also Navajo Code Talkers (U.S. Navy). We are all Americans: Native Americans in the Civil War offers an account of Native Americans in both the Union and Confederate armies (City of Alexandria, VA). See U.S. History: Veterans Stories for related resources.

Native Peoples: Health & Illness [Archived page] VIDEO - 'Explores the interconnectedness of wellness, illness, and cultural life for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, [and shows] how Native concepts of health and illness are closely tied to the concepts of community, spirit, and the land.' Includes a timeline highlighting key events & themes from antiquity to today, plus interviews with health professionals, community leaders, traditional healers, and others working to improve the health of Native peoples (2011, U.S. National Library of Medicine). Plagues and Peoples: The Columbia Exchange examines the impact of European exploration and colonization on native peoples in the Americas, particularly the devastation wrought by on native populations by exposure to European diseases (Dr. Ian Carr, University of Manitoba; date unknown). See also The Columbian Exchange, above.

North American Indian: Photographic Images - Edward S. Curtis's photographs of Native Americans, first published in the early 20th century. Arranged by location / tribe. (Library of Congress)

Orinoco - History and culture of twelve distinct indigenous groups found in the remote Orinoco region in Southern Venezuela, including the Baniwa, Warekena, and Yanomami peoples. (Fundación Cisneros)

Plateau Indians - An overview of the Native American peoples inhabiting the high plateau region between the Rocky Mountains and the coastal mountain system (Encyclopaedia Britannica).

Solar Astronomy in the Prehistoric Southwest - The Sun was especially an object of central importance to the prehistoric Native American civilizations. There is evidence that they carefully watched the movements of the Sun along the horizon and observed the play of light through windows and portholes at crucial times of the year. This site explores the astronomical knowledge and practices of the ancient peoples of the American Southwest. (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, a nonprofit academic consortium). Ancient Observatories [Archived page; some media features do not work] explores the history, culture, and astronomical knowledge of the native peoples of Chaco Canyon, Arizona. Middle school and up (Exploratorium). See also Maya Sun VIDEO (2020, Smithsonian Institution).

Trail of Tears - See American Indian Removal and related links, above.

Native Peoples of Other Continents

African Peoples [Archived page] - Overviews of more than 100 native tribes and peoples of Africa, covering art, history, politics, religion, and more. Part of the Art & Life in Africa [Archived page] website; Christopher D. Roy et al., University of Iowa). See also African History links.

Archaeology Channel AUDIO VIDEO - Dozens of online videos and related resources on the human cultural heritage of indigenous peoples and past civilizations from around the world. Use the search box to find videos on specific places or cultures. (Archaeological Legacy Institute, Eugene OR)

Australia: Indigenous Australia - Explores Indigenous Australian history and culture, including spirituality, family, social issues and more (2021, Australian Museum). See also Australia: Aboriginal Art & Culture (2020, Aboriginal Australia Art And Culture Centre).

Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art - 'Humble but beautifully crafted coiled baskets have been made in Africa for millennia and by Africans in the American South for as long as they have been on these shores.' This site explores the history and culture of basket-making by indigenous Africans, and by African slaves in America. (2008, Museum for African Art et al. / Smithsonian Institution)

Indigenous Cultural Survival - Online publication offering articles about indigenous (native) peoples around the world, and current issues which affect them. High school and up; free registration required for full access to all articles. (By a non-profit international indigenous rights organization)

Masks in Native Cultures [Link opens a PDF] - 'People from cultures all over the world have been using masks in celebrations, religious rituals, and just for fun for centuries.' This colorful PDF looks at the uses and meanings of masks in traditional cultures around the world. Includes facts, quizzes, and learning activities. (2013, Penn Museum)