Native
Americans are the indigenous peoples within the territory that is now
encompassed by the continental United States, including parts of Alaska
down to their descendants in modern times. They comprise a large number
of distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which are still
enduring as political communities. There is some controversy surrounding
the names used to describe these peoples: they are also known as
American Indians, Indians, Amerindians, Amerinds, or Indigenous,
Aboriginal or Original Americans. In Canada they are known as First
Nations.
The U.S. states and several of the inhabited insular areas that are not
part of the continental U.S. also contain indigenous groups. Some of
these other indigenous peoples in the United States, including the
Inuit, Yupik Eskimos, and Aleuts, are not always counted as Native
Americans, although the US Census 2000 demographics listed "American
Indian and Alaskan Native" collectively. Native Hawaiians (also known as
Kanaka Māoli and Kanaka 'Oiwi) and various other Pacific Islander
American peoples such as the Chamorros are also not considered Native
American.This site
exists to serve "all" these great and enduring Peoples. |
