Are you curious to know who the REAL Americans are? But be careful when talking about this as there are different views and opinions are being tackled here. But one thing’s for sure, we can agree to this collection of rare and never before seen photographs from the people in the 1800s and early 1900s. There are many stories to tell. Some are terrifying, but some are just a history we wish we were able to experience.
Chief Wolf Robe, 1899
The leader of the southern Cheyenne Indian Tribe is Chief Wolf Robe. In 1890 he was awarded the Benjamin Harrison Peace Medal for his support in the Cherokee Commission. He is also one of Cheyenne’s most respected tribe leaders. He ensured that his people would forgive the U.S. government for their useless slaughter.
Chief Wolf Robe, 1899
Joe Medicine Crow (1913 – 2016)
Joe Medicine Crow went to war against the Nazis for the second world war and carried out the four must-dos to become a war chief. He wore his war paints during the battle – two red stripes on his arms and a sacred yellow-painted eagle feather under his helmet. But what are the four tasks he needs to do? These are touching an enemy without killing him, taking an enemy’s weapon, leading a war party, and stealing an enemy’s horse. All of these must-dos were achieved and so, he became the tribe leader. Joe passed away at age 102.
Joe Medicine Crow (1913 2016)
“The Eagle” 1913
This photo shows the members of the Blackfoot tribe and taken in the year 1913. Blackfoot is a highly nomadic tribe from the Great Lakes before taking over the lands of Edmonton, Alberta, Yellowstone, and South Dakota. Chief White Calf sold a part of the land, about 800,000 acres, for $1.5 Million with a promise that they can still go hunting on the land whenever they wanted. But in the 19th century, the land was abdicated by the European and American travelers which make their ownership ends completely.
The Eagle 1913
Sitting Bull, 1885
Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill formed a partnership in the 19th century. It may seem strange since Sitting Bull was a leader of the Lakota tribe while leading his people against the United States government. Bull made an appearance in Bill’s Wild West show for four months with daily pay of $50 that amounts to $1,423 in today’s rate. He will only ride around the arena while cursing the audiences in Lakota – but it’s only for humor or fun. The two remained friends even after the show was finished. Sitting Bull died during a battle in 1890 with the U.S government at Fort Yates.
Sitting Bull, 1885
‘Pretty Nose’ 1879
Pretty Nose was the Arapaho tribe’s war leader and fought in the Little Bighorn battle. It is often called Cheyenne tribe, but scientists identify it as Arapaho based on its red, black and white beaded cuffs. In the 1950s, she survived well until her grandson, Mark Soldier Wolf, became an Arapaho tribal elder, went to the Marine Corps in Korea and safely returned.
‘Pretty Nose’ 1879
Low Dog, 1870
Low Dog was a witness to some of the most intense wars the Lakota had ever seen in the Battle of Little Big Horn, alongside Sitting Bull. After he became war chief at the age of 14, he had to fight with the U.S. Army, which must have been awful despite his courage.
Low Dog, 1870
Geronimo, 1905
Geronimo is popular as the Apache chief who quickly hanged anyone trying to get in his path. While keeping Mexico and the American forces from forcing his people out of their land, Geronimo put up a fight with the U.S. military and succeeded on September 4, 1886. But he spent his last 20 years as a prisoner of war.
Geronimo, 1905
White Wolf, 1785
Chief John Smith was on this planet for an incredibly long time, so much so that it’s not entirely clear how old he was, he was also known as White Wolf and Gaa-binagwiiyaas or “When The Flesh peels Off.” Apart from his impressive generation, Smith was one of the Native Americans most photographed at the time. C.N. Christensen, from Cass Lake, Minnesota, used Smith as a model for various cabinet photography that brought Smith fame to travel in the midwest and sell his own pictures free of charge and ride the tracks.
White Wolf, 1785
Zitkala Sa, 1898
Alternatively known as Gertrude Simmons, or Red Bird, Zitkala-Sa was an American native activist who spent her adult life touting the native lifestyle while fighting to extend their people’s opportunities and safeguard their community. She moved with her husband to Washington, D.C. where, before founding the American Indians National Council in 1926, she acted as a liaison between the company and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Even as her life ended in 1938, she continued to work for the advancement of the Indians.
Zitkala Sa, 1898
Jim Thorpe, 1887
In return, Thorpe won his place in the Olympic track team with regular sneakers but when he arrived at the Olympics 1912 in Stockholm, Sweden, somebody took his shoes off. Thornton did not deter this. A teammate lent him one shoe, and unexpectedly, he found another one in the garbage but it’s too big. So, he wore extra socks to solve this problem. The only thing Thorpe did not win during the games that year was a javelin throw – he had never attempted it before. He finished as a bronze medalist.
Jim Thorpe, 1887
Gray Mountain
Storytelling is one of the most important aspects of Navajo culture. Not only does it continue to develop a rich legacy like many indigenous cultures, but it also reminds young people of their family lines. Many people think of the narrative as entertainment for children, but it helps maintain tradition and vocabulary for the Diné. Laura Tohe, a fellow English professor at ASU and Navajo people, was born and told that transmitting these rituals is an important way of life for their tribe. Stories convey values, language, memories, principles and philosophy to the next generation.
Gray Mountain
Iron Tail, 1905
Chief Iron Tail, Born Sinté Máza, of the Oglala Lakota nation, grew to lead the Lakota tribe and was even at the Wild West Show in Buffalo Bill in the 1800s. Major Israel McCreight, an American Indian culture expert from the 19th century, described Iron Tail as: “Not a war chief, but a smart advisor and diplomat always dignified, calm, never boastful. He also performed at the Wild West Show and many people saw his performance so he decided to continue working with Wild Bill until 1913.
Iron Tail, 1905
Ute warrior, 1873
The Ute tribe was among the oldest people in the Southwest, particularly in Utah and Colorado where they hunted and planted crops. In the 17th century they began to trade with the Spaniards and continued to use the horses they won for their businesses and hunt for larger games. When Mormons moved in the region, gold-hungry settlers soon followed them in the summer of 1858, so the life for the Utes became stress on a daily basis. Today Utes rely on bookings all over the Southwest and earning money from casinos all over Colorado.
Ute Warrior, 1873
Red Hawk, 1905
Oglala Sioux means “to disperse one’s own” in Sioux. Oglala Sioux was one of the main tribes in America in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the six other groups comprising Lakota. This party went to war with western Sioux for more land and hunting grounds. By the late 1800s, the Sioux Coalition was strongly divided, with the Kiyuksa, the Oyuhpe and the Real Oglala split into smaller and smaller groups as a result of the pressures of the American Government.
Red Hawk, 1905
Mahalia, 1912
This photograph of a 114-year-old woman demonstrates not only the strength of the Americans but how the indigenous lifestyle of connection with the land encouraged long life and good health. The tribe of Mahalia is not clear, but most possibly in the Suquamish, Duwamish, Nisqually, Snoqualmie or Muckleshoot.
Mahalia, 1912
Situwuka and Katkwachsnea, 1912
Not much is known about Situwuka and Katkwachsnea, although the date of this picture provides some insight into their existence. In the 1890s the “allotments” system of the U.S. government began to decompose native land from 138 million acres throughout 1887 to its ultimate scale of 48 million acres by 1934. This pair probably lived in a shelter of the force, mixing with tribes and others they didn’t know. In their own land, they became vagabonds.
Situwuka And Katkwachsnea, 1912
Hupa man, 1923
This Hupa man who looks into a stream, waiting for a meal for his family or perhaps even his tribe, has been captured by Edward Curtis, a photographer famous for his work on people from the Americas. This shot was taken in 1923 on “Sugar Bowl,” an area of California’s Northwest Nevada County. The Hupa were an amalgam of native people in the Pacific Northwest and California who lived on riverbanks of semi-subterranean buildings more often than not when they slept and sweated.
Hupa Man, 1923
Navajo silversmith ”Slim” Bae-ie-schluch-aichin, 1890
Ben Wittick, the photographer who took the only known, surviving picture of Billy the Boy, took the photo of that skinny Navajo silversmith. Not all Wittick ‘s photographs were world-famous outlaws, many of the pictures he took told southwestern American histories, gave an insight into native life and people who were seeking their fortunes in the west.
Navajo Silversmith ”Slim” Bae Ie Schluch Aichin, 1890
Rabbit Tail, 1895
The Shoshone fought the U.S. military in the Snake War and the Bannock War in the 1860s but left the U.S. Army in 187 in combat against Lakota and Cheyenne. It is most likely that Rabbit-Tail worked with US military in the Rosebud, a long and bloody commitment to Little Bighorn and that did not end with a real victory.
Rabbit Tail, 1895
Beautiful Girl With Her Pet
These early dogs came from Eurasian Gray Wolves, which are brought into Américas by refugees across the Beringian Land Bridge, although at least 4 different types of dog have possibly been introduced in 9,000 years. Native American dogs look like wolves and are certainly used as sledges and watch-dogs but are also raised for service.
Beautiful Girl With Her Pet
Kaw-U-Tz, 1906
The Caddo Nation was a tribe of farmers in an unkind part of the land, spreading throughout East Texas, Louisiana and parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma. We passed through the pine trees and the wet marshlands where corn, beans and squash were grown. The Caddo lived in grass huts more often than not, which were formed into large cone-like structures.
Kaw U Tz, 1906
Bear’s Belly, 1909
In 1909, Edward Curtis, a photographer and ethnologist who concentrated on the American West, photographed this brave warrior during a number of sessions by J.P. Morgan funded $75,000 in music. Curtis ‘ intention was not only to capture indigenous people but to record as much as possible their daily lives before their way of life vanished.
Bear’s Belly, 1909
Navajo Man, 1903
The Navajo people had a variety of deities, but none of them was as great as the Nayenezgani, “the killer of alien gods.” Nayenzgani works with his twin brother Tobadzishini to kill monsters and transform them into stones to create the larger rock formations called the Monument Valley in Arizona, according to the Navajo mythological system. Today, the Navajo wear masks to reveal the monster slayers at ceremonies celebrating this fascinating story.
Navajo Man, 1903
Gertrude Three Finger, 1892
Gertrude Three Finger is known for her traditional garments as she uses and elk teeth as decoration. Irwin has been working with her many times. A few years later, another photo shows her and her child in a papoose and looking as genuine as ever. A particular photograph of Gertrude is a cabinet card made of a print sheet. It can be seen directly in the library at Oklahoma University.
Gertrude Three Finger, 1892
K’aa lani aka Many Arrows, 1903
Navajo is the second-biggest federally recognized tribe in the United States. Navajo occupies 27 000 square miles in the Southwest of the United States, which made it difficult for the military to corral them even when contact between tribes was not an easy task. Throughout World War 2, Navajo warriors were invaluable to the military as code speakers, soldiers using the Navajo language to relay messages that could not be heard by the Japanese military.
K’aa lani aka Many Arrows, 1903
Pete Mitchell aka Dust Maker, 1898
A photograph of Pete Mitchell from the tribe of Ponca was taken by Frank Rinehart, a photographer known for his work with the Indians. His pictures are not only people’s images but also a look at the people who created America. This picture, taken in 1898, was shot at the Omaha Indian Congress in Nebraska, at that time the largest meeting of American Indian tribes of its kind, and housed more than 500 members from 35 different tribes.
Pete Mitchell Aka Dust Maker, 1898
A Yuma Man, 1900
The inhabitants of Yuma are also known as the Quechan, and they lived throughout much of their lives in Arizona and California during 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, two parts of the U.S. that sound as if it were unlivable without modern amenities, but they did. Like every other party, Quechan people often loved music and art in order to experience both the rough and good times.
A Yuma Man, 1900
Ah-Weh-Eyu aka Pretty Flower, 1908
Looking at the picture, you would be able to see an Iroquois woman. For your information, Iroquois is a group of people, more like an alliance, based in North America. In their society, back in the 1500s, women were the ones who had the superiority because they had always believed that women had the power to feel and know the Earth’s nature. Well, let us now talk about the woman in the photo. By simply analyzing the photo, even at first glance, it is very evident that the woman was a person that kept in touch with nature.
Ah Weh Eyu Aka Pretty Flower, 1908
Chief Bone Necklace, 1899
Also known as the Teton Sioux, the Lakota tribe is the largest and most western of the three groups, occupying lands in both North and South Dakota. It comprises seven tribal bands. Before, in their society, the women were the ones in charge of the sources – what to do with them and how to distribute them to all the people in the tribe. On the other hand, the men were the ones who ran to be the chiefs of the tribe and they were chosen by different factors. The man in the picture clearly used to be a chief before.
Chief Bone Necklace, 1899
First Nations Couple From Canada, 1886
The photo that is right in front of your eyes is a picture of a couple that came from the First Nations. For your information, they are a group of indigenous people located in Canada, south of the Arctic Circle. If you are wondering, this photo was originally taken by a wonderful photographer living by the name of Alex Ross. Other than this picture, the photographer has also shot a lot of pictures of other people coming from other tribes.
First Nations Couple From Canada, 1886
Goldie Jamison Conklin, 1900
In the photo, you would be able to see Goldie Jamison Conklin. She was well-known as a Seneca of the Heron Clan. She used to live in New York as she sold different household items for a living. One of the things she was hired to sell was a line of knives. She was a very popular and gorgeous model back in her days. Now, let us talk about her tribe. Goldie Jamison Conklin came from the Seneca people, a group of indigenous people native to North America who historically lived south of Lake Ontario.
Goldie Jamison Conklin, 1900
Chief Duck With His Wife And Grandchild, 1925
The picture showcases Chief Duck of the Blackfoot tribe with the company of his wife and grandchild. Blackfoot is a North American Indian tribe composed of three closely related bands – the Siksika, the Piegan, and the Blood. As a tribe, they used to own and use firearms and horses of different kinds in order to fight their enemies back in the day. The man you can see in the picture was their Chief in 1925.
Chief Duck With His Wife And Grandchild, 1925
Black Shawl, 1888
The woman in the picture is none other than the lovely wife of Crazy Horse. A little background of the person that I currently mentioned, Crazy Horse was a war leader that always fought for his tribe, Lakota. He met Black Shawl in the middle of 1870 and she was the one who took care of him every time he would recover from a rough war. The two eventually tied the knot in 1871. All throughout their married life, Crazy Horse and Black Shawl had one child.
Black Shawl, 1888
Stands Hard, 1900
Stands Hard is the name of the man in the picture. He was a member of a tribe called Sioux Dakota. Sioux is a group of First Nations people along with other Native American tribes. Now, the Sioux people are divided into three categories which happened to be Canada, Minnesota, and Dakota – that’s why Stands Hard is now considered a part of Sioux Dakota. Back in the days when Stands Hard and the people in his tribe used to fight for their community, they owned lots of horses that accompanied them in every tribe war they had been involved in.
Stands Hard, 1900
Hattie Tom, 1899
The woman in the picture was a part of the Apache tribe. The said tribe is a group of Native American tribes located in the Southwestern United States that has cultural relations. Some of the groups that belong to Apache are Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Salinero, and Chiricahua. Hattie Tom is the one in the picture and she was a popular woman in their tribe back then. By the way, this photo was originally taken by Frank Rinehart – a photographer who used to be well-known for taking various native and cultural photos.
Hattie Tom, 1899
Apache Woman, 1894
Here comes another Apache woman. Back in the days when tribe wars used to happen very often, there were two types of Apache people – one that fought hard physically with other tribes and the other type were the people who chose to live a simple life, not involving themselves in any war. The woman in the picture was more of the second type. She used to dress in a very simple, yet adorable way and keep in touch with Earth’s elements just like what most of the women did before.
Apache Woman, 1894
A Young Native-American Woman And A Child, 1930
The picture showcases a woman who is helplessly carrying a child. Looking at its background and analyzing it, the woman with a baby was standing on the railings of a train station. This photo was historically taken in the 1930s and with that being said, it really made sense that this photo was taken during the severe worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930s which was also known as the Great Depression. Imagine the struggles that people in indigenous tribes, just like this woman with a child, had to go through that time – everything was really devastating.
A Young Native American Woman And A Child, 1930
A Young Cree Man, 1903
The man that can be seen in the photo was from the tribe called Cree. It is one of the most populous groups of First Nations in North America. Actually, back in the old days, their population used to be really low because of the successive deaths that were experienced by the people in the tribe due to fetal pandemics and intense tribe wars that really made their population drop. Now, divided into several categories, the Cree people are living as a community and they are all doing their best to protect their tribe.
A Young Cree Man, 1903
A Native Alaskan With Her Child, 1906
As what the title’s saying, the photo is showcasing a Native Alaskan woman who’s posing with her lovely child. Native Americans who came from Alaska are one of the largest groups of Native Americans in the whole country. Even before, they were already divided into several groups and until now, they still are. Despite the diversity that was evident because of the classifications, Native Alaskans had one same thing in their minds and that was to protect themselves especially their children at all costs. That principle is what the photo is saying – the woman looking very protective of her child.
A Native Alaskan With Her Child, 1906
High Hawk, 1907
This photo showcases HIgh Hawk. In case you are wondering, High Hawk was a part of the Brulé tribe which is currently one of the seven branches of the Teton Lakota American Indian people. It is revealed by studies that the name of the tribe, Brulé, may have derived from an incident where they were fleeing through a grass fire on the plains – because Brulé literally means “burnt”. This photo was originally taken by Edward S. Curtis in 1907. Curtis was a photographer well-known for working on photos related to Native Americans and their culture.
High Hawk, 1907
Kiowa girl, 1894
Taken in the middle of 1894, this photo showcases a teenager who was part of the Native American tribe, Kiowa. For your information, Kiowa is a large group of indigenous people based in the Great Plains of the United States. Their language revolves around the English Language, Kiowa language, and the Plains Indian Sign Language. Back in the days, Kiowa people did not have a permanent place to reside in – all of them transferred from one place to another every single time and despite the struggles, they still managed to protect the entire tribe and live up to their principles.
Kiowa Girl, 1894
An Inuit Man With His Wife, 1890
The photo that can be seen on this page showcases a man who is holding his wife’s feet in order to warm her up. The couple in the photo were members of the Inuit tribe. In case you did not know, the Inuit tribe is a group of indigenous people living in the Arctic regions of Alaska, Greenland, and Canada. With this photo, it is evident that one of the tribe’s principles is taking care of one another despite any situation they would be involved in. This photo was originally taken in the middle of 1890, by Robert E. Peary.
An Inuit Man With His Wife, 1890
Shaman
The person who can be seen in the photo is a shaman. For your information, a shaman is a person who engages himself in various activities reflecting cultural, spiritual, and traditional beliefs. Shamans have always been known as the people who perform various rituals and medications. They were also the ones who used to be very close to various tribes that became home to a lot of Native Americans a very long time ago – because of different reasons, shamans found ways on how to build a relationship with a lot of Native Americans.
Shaman
Wild Horse, 1880
The man that can be seen in the photo was known by the name, Wild Horse. He was a Dakota native and this picture of him was originally taken in the middle 1880. It was shared that the value that Dakota natives treasure the most, up until today, is their relationship with one another. It is an obligation in their tribe to be a great and kind relative. Well, that is such an adorable and sweet gesture that the Dakota natives have started a very long time ago.
Wild Horse, 1880
Whiteman Runs Him, 1910
Yes, Whiteman Runs Him was truly the name of the man posing in the picture. He was one of the Crow people. In case you did not know, Crow people are Native Americans residing in the borders of southern Montana. Going back to Whiteman Runs Him, he was a warrior that fought hard for his beloved tribe. He started serving as a Crow scout at a very young age of 18 and it was a tough decision for him to make.
Whiteman Runs Him, 1910
Sacagawea
The woman you are looking at in the photo was known by the name Sacagawea. She was a part of the Shoshone, a Native American tribe, and was a daughter of a man who once served as a Chief. Sacagawea had been through a lot and she struggled with different problems as she lived her life. Well, out of all the things that she did, Sacagawea was most well-known for being involved in Lewis and Clark’s discoveries.
Sacagawea
Native Chiefs And U.S. Officials, 1891
This photo was originally taken in the middle of 1891. It showcases a group of people who happened to be several officials of the United States along with Native Chiefs coming from different tribes or groups. They took a picture after having a serious and peaceful meeting that was held in South Dakota.
Native Chiefs And U.S. Officials, 1891
George A. Custer, 1908
This photo contains George A. Cluster with the company of six Crow scouts posing for a picture. This photo was originally taken in the middle of 1908 before getting in a fight on the Little Bighorn Battlefield. These crows really made a huge and tough decision to become a Crow because they had to do whatever they could just to win over their enemies and protect their tribe.
George A. Custer, 1908
Chief Little Wound Of The Oglala Lakota And His Family, 1899
Chief Little Wound used to be a Chief of the Oglala people. In case you did not know, Oglala is one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people who make up the Seven Council Fires. However, in the picture that was originally taken in the middle of 1899, Chief Little Wound was not the only one posing, he was with his family – the people he loved the most. Chief Little Wound was also a great warrior who was involved in a tribal war that had a huge impact on a lot of Native Americans.
Chief Little Wound Of The Oglala Lakota And His Family, 1899
Chief Red Bird, 1927
Red Bird once used to be a Chief of the Cheyenne people. For your information, Cheyenne is a large group of indigenous people that is made of two different tribes. Their recognized language revolves around the Algonquian language family and that has been their official language ever since. Chief Red Bird led a tribe that was so attached to spiritual ceremonies and rituals. Another fact about the Cheyenne people is that back in the old days, they did not have a permanent place to live in, so they kept on transferring from one place to another every time.
Chief Red Bird, 1927
Chief Clinton Rickard, 1882
Here comes another Chief. Clinton Rickard was a part of the Tuscarora people and he once served as the tribe’s Chief. With all the things that he did for his tribe, it can be confirmed that Chief Clinton Rickard was a very tough warrior who did his best to protect his fellow Native Americans. In order to prove this point, he even convinced a lot of Native Americans to join the Armed Forces so that they could protect their tribe during the Second World War. Kudos to his courage and will power!
Chief Clinton Rickard, 1882
Black Eagle, 1932
The man that can be seen in the photo is a Heyókȟa. In simpler terms, a heyókȟa was a medicine man back in the day who served a lot of Native Americans. Yes, you may think of them as shamans but they have a little difference. Back in the 1900s, medicine men used to be a foolish entertainer – in other words, a court jester. They would do a lot of foolish things that would really make Native Americans entertained, spurious, and interested all at the same time.
Black Eagle, 1932
An Arapaho Family
Looking at the picture, you would be able to see an Arapaho family. Arapaho people are close allies of the Cheyenne tribe and loosely aligned with the Lakota and Dakota. Their tribe is historically living on the boundaries of Wyoming and Colorado. Before having a permanent place to live in, the Arapaho people were nomadic – they had to transfer from one place to another whenever necessary. Another fun fact about this tribe is that they had a routine wherein oral storytelling became a serious tradition that everyone had to follow. Other than that, they still have other traditions.
An Arapaho Family