# data[].attributes.body
Explore indigenous cultures through artifacts.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Introduction | Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian - George Gustav Heye Center, New York

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian is a spectacular, permanent exhibition of some 700 works of Native art from throughout North, Central, and South America. This exhibition will demonstrate the breadth of the National Museum of the A…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Recipes | First Nations Development Institute

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Bring a Bit of Native America to Your Table!
First Nations Development Institute – with the help of some of our great grantees – is offering cookbooks and recipes from Native American tribes and organizations. Preparing some of these dishes is a great way to bring a delicious taste of Native Amer…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
in honor of Native American Heritage Month

Syringes and Hypodermic Needles: South American Indians used a type of syringe made from sharpened hollow bird bones attached to small bladders to inject medicine and clean ears.

Chewing Gum: The Mesoamerican Indians chewed the milky "chicle," which became today's chewing gum.

Pharmaceuticals: Native American Indians were some of the first developers of anesthetics, using coca, peyote, datura and other plants for partial or total loss of sensation or consciousness during surgery. Immigrant doctors who came to America were unaware of these techniques until the mid-19th century. Before this, they performed surgery with no more anesthetic than alcohol or knocked the patient out.

Language: Countless Native American Indian words have become a part of the English language. Just a few of these include barbecue, cannibal, caribou, chipmunk, chocolate, cougar, hammock, hurricane, mahogany, moose, opossum, potato, skunk, squash, toboggan, and woodchuck.

Food: Native American Indians cultivated and developed many plants that are very important in the world today, including white and sweet potatoes, corn, beans, tobacco, chocolate, peanuts, cotton, rubber, and gum. They were also the first to make popcorn.
Native American Indians made root beer from Sassafras, which pre-dates colas and other popular sodas. During American Colonial times, Root Beer was introduced, along with other beverages like Birch Beer, Sarsaparilla Beer and Ginger Beer.
Native American Indians were the first people to make Maple Syrup, in much the same way is it is made today.

Games: Canoeing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, lacrosse, relay races, tug-of-wars, and ball games are just a few of the games early Native American Indians played and still enjoy today. The word "Toboggan" comes from the Algonquian word "Odabaggan", which was invented by Native American Indians in the eastern part of the United States to carry game over the snow.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
in honor of Native American Heritage Month Syringes and Hypodermic Needles: South American Indians used a type of syringe made from sharpened hollow bird bones attached to small bladders to inject medicine and clean ears. Chewing Gum: The Mesoamerican Indians chewed the milky "chicle," which became today's chewing gum.

# data[].attributes.body
Explore what the horse meant for Native American cultures.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Introduction

The story of the relationship of Native peoples and horses is one of the great sagas of human contact with the animal world. Native peoples have traditionally regarded the animals in our lives as fellow creatures with which a common destiny is shared. When American Indians encountered horses-which some tribes call the Horse Nation-they found an ally, inspiring and useful in times of peace, and intrepid in times of war. Horses transformed Native life and became a central part of many tribal cultures.

By the 1800s, American Indian horsemanship was legendary, and the survival of many Native peoples, especially on the Great Plains, depended on horses. Native peoples paid homage to horses by incorporating them into their cultural and spiritual lives, and by creating art that honored the bravery and grace of the horse.

The glory days of the horse culture were brilliant but brief, lasting just over a century. The bond between American Indians and the Horse Nation, however, has remained strong through the generations.

October 29, 2011-January 7, 2013
NMAI on the National Mall, Washington, DC

This exhibition was also on view at the National Museum of the American Indian's George Gustav Heye Center in New York, NY, November 14, 2009-July 10, 2011.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Song for the Horse Nation - October 29, 2011 through January 7, 2013 - The National Museum of the American Indian - Washington, D.C.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A Song for the Horse Nation presents the epic story of the horse's influence on American Indian tribes from the 1600s to the present. Drawing upon a treasure-trove of stunning historical objects-including ledger drawings, hoof ornaments, beaded bags, hide robes, paintings, and other objects-and new pieces by contemporary Native artists, the exhibition reveals how horses shaped the social, economic, cultural, and spiritual foundations of American Indian life, particularly on the Great Plains.

# data[].attributes.body
See commonalities and differences between nations in reference to the Circle of Dance.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Circle of Dance - October 6, 2012 through October 8, 2017 - The National Museum of the American Indian in New York

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Circle of Dance is a five-year exhibition that presents Native dance as a vibrant, meaningful, and diverse form of cultural expression. Featuring ten social and ceremonial dances from throughout the Americas, the exhibition illuminates the significance of each dance and highlights the unique charact…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is a code talker? A code talker is the name given to American Indians who used their tribal language to send secret communications on the battlefield. Most people have heard of the famous Navajo (or Diné) code talkers who used their traditional language to transmit secret Allied messages in the Pacific theater of combat during World War II. But did you know that there were at least 14 other Native nations, including the Cherokee and Comanche, that served as code talkers in both the Pacific and Europe during the war? The idea of using American Indians who were fluent in both their traditional tribal language and in English to send secret messages in battle was first put to the test in World War I with the Choctaw Telephone Squad and other Native communications experts and messengers. However, it wasn't until World War II that the US military developed a specific policy to recruit and train American Indian speakers to become code talkers. The irony of being asked to use their Native languages to fight on behalf of America was not lost on code talkers, many of whom had been forced to attend government or religious-run boarding schools that tried to assimilate Native peoples and would punish students for speaking in their traditional language.

The US Army was the first branch of the military that began recruiting code talkers from places like Oklahoma in 1940. Other branches, such as the US Marines and Navy, followed a few years later, and the first class of 29 Navajo code talker US Marine recruits completed its training in 1942. Apart from basic training, these men had to develop and memorize a unique military code using their mostly unwritten language, and were placed in a guarded room until this task was completed.

The first type of code they created, Type 1 code, consisted of 26 Navajo terms that stood for individual English letters that could be used to spell out a word. For instance, the Navajo word for "ant," wo-la-chee, was used to represent the letter "a" in English.

Type 2 code contained words that could be directly translated from English into Navajo, and the code talkers also developed a dictionary of 211 terms (later expanded to 411) for military words and names that didn't originally exist in the Navajo language. For example, since there was no existing Navajo word for "submarine," the code talkers agreed to use the term besh-lo, which translates to "iron fish."

Most code talkers were assigned in pairs to a military unit. During battle, one person would operate the portable radio while the second person would relay and receive messages in the Native language and translate them into English. Their work was highly dangerous especially in the Pacific, because Japanese soldiers would deliberately target officers, medics, and radiomen, and code talkers had to keep moving as they transmitted their messages. The work of hundreds of code talkers was essential to Allied victory in World War II, and they were present at many important battles, including at Utah Beach during the D-Day invasion in France, and at Iwo Jima in the Pacific. In fact, 5th Marine Division signal officer Major Howard Connor stated, "Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima."

Despite their heroic contributions during the war, American Indian code talkers were told that they had to keep their work secret. They couldn't even tell their family members about their communications work. Since the codes that they developed remained unbroken, the US military wanted to keep the program classified in case the code talkers were needed again in future wars. Even when the WWII code talker program was declassified in 1968, national recognition of code talkers was slow. While there was some recognition in the 1970s and 1980s, it wasn't until 2001 that Congressional Gold Medals were given to the Navajo and other code talkers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
American Indian Code Talkers | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The idea of using American Indians who were fluent in both their traditional tribal language and in English to send secret messages in battle was first put to the test in World War I with the Choctaw Telephone Squad and other Native communications experts and messengers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome! Meet the Code Talkers of World Wars I and II. Learn about their lives and military achievements.

# data[].attributes.body
Watch as traditional games are explained and shown on this video.

# data[].attributes.body
Get a brief overview of why we celebrate Indigenous People's Day and Native American Heritage Month.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Indigenous Peoples' Day | All About the Holidays | PBS LearningMedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
August 9th is Indigenous Peoples' Day. Created by the United Nations in 1994, the holiday honors indigenous people and cultures around the world. While there is no single definition for indigenous, indigenous people maintain close ties to their ancestral land and traditions.

# data[].attributes.body
Which of these recipes would you like to try?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sean Sherman’s 10 Essential Native American Recipes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sean Sherman’s 10 Essential Native American Recipes is a group of recipes collected by the editors of NYT Cooking.

# data[].attributes.body
Which recipes would you like to try?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Native American Recipes: 25 of Our All-Time Favorites

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Whether you are a member of one of the recognized tribes or come from a different background, these Native American recipes will give you a delicious taste of authentic, natural cooking enjoyed through the centuries.

# data[].attributes.body
Which recipes would you like to try?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Recipes | First Nations Development Institute

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Bring a Bit of Native America to Your Table!
First Nations Development Institute – with the help of some of our great grantees – is offering cookbooks and recipes from Native American tribes and organizations. Preparing some of these dishes is a great way to bring a delicious taste of Native Amer…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts, LLP - An Intellectual Property Law Firm

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
1. Snow Goggles - Invented by the Inuit people in Alaska and Canada

To protect their eyes from snow blindness, these goggles are made of driftwood and slivers of bone or ivory to form a frame with an adjustable leather strap.

2. Cable Suspension Bridges - Developed in South America by indigenous cultures

The method of suspended cables with a hollowed bird bone to secure them was used as early as 500 BC in the form of rope bridges. It has since been adopted and adapted by engineers around the world.

3. Raised Bed Gardening - An ancient practice of American Indians

The Iroquois and other indigenous people used the raised bed method to improve soil drainage, reduce weeds, and enhance productivity. Some of these beds were even made with logs or stones placed in a circle or square.

4. Rubber - Discovered by Amazonian tribes several centuries ago

The rubber tree was a major source of sap for the Incas and other tribes in South America. The sap was used to make everything from baby bottles to shoes, and it wasn't until Charles Goodyear discovered how to vulcanize rubber that it became widely popularized.

5. Topical Analgesic - A pain relief used by Native Americans for external injuries

Native Americans had a range of remedies to treat pain. They used hollow bird bones for acupuncture, pounded nuts as an analgesic, and greased bear gut for wound dressings. One of the most effective remedies was salicylic acid from the bark of a sapodilla tree found in Central America.

6. Spanish Explorers' Mapmaking Tools - Adopted and adapted from Native American inventions

Native Americans had a variety of tools to help with mapmaking, including bird's quill pens, woven mountain grasses and other vegetation that were used as small plugs to indicate rivers, mountains and regions. The Spanish explorers adopted these methods and added their own technology like the compass that made maps even more accurate.

7. Bunk Beds & Weave Mountain Grasses - Used as beds to conserve space created by native peoples

The Native Americans used animal bladders and other materials to weave together beds that would conserve space in the home. Bunk beds were also a popular invention among tribes of the Great Plains.

8. Greased Bear Gut String - Quivers were made from bear gut string, invented many years ago

The Native Americans used bear gut string to make quivers, which were a popular invention for hunting. The strings were made by rubbing the grease from the bear's intestines onto one end of it and then twining it tightly around itself.

9 . Salicylic Acid (Aspirin)- Used as a topical ointment for treating fevers among Native people

Salicylic acid was used by Native Americans to treat fevers and other illnesses. It was believed that this active ingredient had healing properties, and it could be applied topically as an ointment or ingested in a tea.

10 . Oral Contraceptive Pill - Harnessing natural ingredients, active ingredient was discovered among Inca People

The Inca people of South America discovered an oral contraceptive pill, which was made from a combination of natural ingredients. It is believed that this active ingredient was one of the first to be discovered and used for contraception.

Native American Inventors have been using their wisdom and knowledge to create inventions for centuries. From snow goggles to suspended bridges, they have a rich history of ingenuity that has shaped the world today. Their inventions are not only practical but also profound in the way that they can be adapted and adopted by others. Native American inventees continue to amaze and influence people, from Kay Marie Porterfield who patented the first all-female invention in 1868 to Emory Dean Keoke who invented a method for locating oil and gas deposits in 2005. Their examples continue to inspire us to use our knowledge and ingenuity to create something that improves lives around the world. As we reflect on their accomplishments and inventions, we can be grateful for their contributions to society and inspired to make a difference in our own lives.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Nurturing Wisdom, Knowledge and Ingenuity: Reflections on 10 Inventions by Native Americans - Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts, LLP

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
1. Snow Goggles - Invented by the Inuit people in Alaska and Canada To protect their eyes from snow blindness, these goggles are made of driftwood and slivers of bone or ivory to form a frame with an adjustable leather strap. 2. Cable Suspension Bridges - Developed in South America by indigenous cultures The method 1.

# data[].attributes.body
Please fill out the Google Form to reflect on your experience.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Access Google Forms with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).

# data[].attributes.body
Sample some music by a Native American

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Buffy Sainte-Marie Radio - Now Playing on Pandora

# data[].attributes.body
Sample some music by some Native Americans.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Halluci Nation Radio - Now Playing on Pandora

# data[].attributes.body
Explore the world and find who inhabits/inhabited that area.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Mapping

We strive to map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages across the world in a way that goes beyond colonial ways of thinking in order to better represent how Indigenous people want to see themselves.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Native Land is a resource to learn more about Indigenous territories, languages, lands, and ways of life. We welcome you to our site.

# data[].attributes.headline
Read some books about and by Native Americans.

# data[].attributes.subject
Read some books about and by Native Americans.

# data[].attributes.body
We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom    E LIN

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard    E MAI

Fatty Legs: A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokaik-Fenton    371.8299 JOR

We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell a Read Along   975.0049 SOR

Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac    FIC BRU

Birchbark House by Louis Erdrich FIC ERD

The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson  FIC JOH

Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis   FIC McM

JoJo Makoons: The Used-To-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley   FIC QUI

How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story by Tim Tingle    FIC TIN

The Native Americans Who Changed the World by Baby Professor