Native American History
The first peoples of this continent built nations here for thousands of years. This is the story of what happened when Europe arrived, and of a resilience that has never been extinguished.
A World Before Columbus
For at least 15,000 years, the peoples of North America built nations, developed civilizations, and called this continent home. The story of Native America does not begin in 1492.
Sources & Further Reading
- National Archives, Indian Removal Act
- Library of Congress, Native American Collections
- Bureau of Indian Affairs, Frequently Asked Questions
- Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
- National Endowment for the Humanities, Trails of Tears
- U.S. Department of the Interior, Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative
- Britannica, Native American History
Pre-contact population estimates are drawn from Britannica and recent PNAS research. Trail of Tears figures are from the National Archives and Britannica. Boarding school statistics are from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative (2022 and 2024) and the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. Tribal sovereignty and recognition figures are from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.