Vintage Images Of Native Indian Women's Fashion

According to modern day archaeologists and academics, ancient people from within an unknown region of Asia were the first humans to migrate into the continent of America between 11,000 years ago and 13,000 years ago, via a natural land bridge called Beringia, which once connected Siberia to present day Alaska. The last Ice Age ended arguably between 11,000 years ago and 13,000 years ago, during which time giant glaciers that had once covered parts of the earth began to thaw, and this event ultimately led to a significant increase in ocean levels around the world that eventually submerged certain sections of land (including Beringia) beneath the sea. As a result, the region where Beringia was once situated had transformed into a narrow shallow depth water passage that is now known as the Bering Strait, which is about 53 miles wide and 130 feet deep, therefore, currently this region separates Russia and Alaska as well as connects the Pacific and Arctic oceans. However, historians and archaeologist have concluded that there is not enough evidence to determine conclusively when and how this original migration of people into North America had first begun, and precisely what was their particular Asian genealogy. One of the popular scientific theories for this migration is that the ancient tribes in question were attempting to track the movements of giant land mammals called Pleistocene megafauna, over a perilous pursuit that ultimately led the ancient trackers to a new frontier (North America). The first humans that crossed into the Americas were known collectively as Clovis people or Paleo-Indians, and it is believed that they had travelled extensively across the unchartered terrains of the new continent in order to explore the vast regions within it.

The First Human inhabitants Of America

The last Ice Age witnessed the great thaw which spanned thousands of years, when the world's temperature increased dramatically by about 3.5 to 4 degrees centigrade, as a result, sea levels and rainfall around the world increased significantly, and the earth was spectacularly transformed into an abundant variety of lush decorative plants, trees, and vegetation, but also, the world witnessed the demise of certain life forms, as well as an increased population of many others. Pleistocene megafauna is a term attributed to a species of giant mammals that once roamed the earth many thousands of years ago, many of which weighed more than 1,000 kg. Scientists named those creatures, Pleistocene megafauna, because they existed in an epoch called Pleistocene, which is an era that spanned thousands of years at the tail end of the last Ice Age. It is believed that such creatures were hunted by the Paleo-Indians for food as well as their dense bones and thick furs, which they needed for clothing and makeshift shelters during the extremely harsh winters. The little that is known about the Paleo-Indians is partly due to various types of artifacts that they left behind thousands of years ago, particularly from a site excavated by archaeologists (including American Ridgely Whiteman) in the late 1920s, which was close to a city called, Clovis, in New Mexico. From this location a number of anthropologists and archaeologists discovered ancient remains that had indicated early human life, including weapons which dated back to about 13,000 years ago, these weapons had been skilfully crafted with sharp four-inch-long projectile points created from various types of stones such as flint, chert, and obsidian, with concave grooves down the sides, the scientists who discovered these artifacts had aptly named them, Clovis, after the city of New Mexico, thereafter, Clovis people, became the official term for the Paleo-Indians.

The Paleo-Indians were a nomadic and pioneering people, who were traditionally on the move across the expansive new continent, on occasion, travelling at a hectic pace, in a race against the seasons, yet, constantly vigilant for game, even when gallivanting aimlessly across the plains, conversely, the hunter often became the hunted in a cruel twist of fate, as within the unpredictable and ruthless world of survival, various species of predatory creatures, driven by eternal hunger, were forever seeking an opportunistic moment to seize an unsuspecting prey. Over many centuries the indigenous tribes of people eventually settled in various regions across the new continent as they diversified and evolved into different communities, each with their individual languages, rituals, and religions, subsequently, many tribal warfares ensued particularly over demarcated hunting territories. In this era the indigenous people began to vary their diets from hunting land herbivores and carnivores to other types of preys such as various species of fishes and marine mammals that had existed in great abundance in many of the coastal rivers. The indigenous tribes also hunted a variety of different birds and foraged the dense forests in search of edible roots, nuts, and berries. But more commonly, the native peoples hunted the larger ground animals, including, elks, deer, moose, and buffaloes. Their hunting campaigns was viewed as a religious event and a test of character, as well as a necessity, and the native tribes often performed ceremonies before and after each hunt. Once the prey had been slain, traditionally, the hunters performed religious rituals to express gratitude for receiving sustenance, but also, remorsefulness for their actions, in the hope of appeasing the unfortunate creature's spirit.

Despite the new world being fraught with hazards and many dangerous creatures at that time in history, nonetheless, on a given day in the glory of the morning sun, as the great theatre of nature unfolded across the land, the scenery from afar would have seemed like a picture of paradise to the appreciative human gaze. Giant trees with towering branches held aloft dressed in leaves, patiently awaited the breath of the swirling breezes as they whistled swiftly onwards to their mysterious destinations. While precarious leaves that were unwittingly glanced, tumble reluctantly to the ground, concurrently accompanied by incongruous symphonies, orchestrated by an ensemble species of different birds perched hither and thither, high above the earth. Meanwhile, ancient majestic mountains and valleys eternally embrace meandering rivers bristling with wildlife, forever racing to their destinies. Historians and Academics have estimated that by the time Italian explorer Christopher Columbus had discovered the new world (North America), there were about 10 million Paleo-Indians already living in geographical regions across the entire continent of America, which represented more than 600 different indigenous tribes of people, each community with their own individual languages, territories, societies and traditions.

The Sacred Buffalo

Many of the ancient American tribes regarded the buffalo as the most esteemed of all the four-legged creatures that walked the earth. Buffaloes were particularly fundamental to the lives of the Plains Indians, the nomadic tribes were known to perform ceremonial buffalo dances, in which they dressed as buffaloes with the fervent hope of evoking the assistance of benevolent spirits in order to ensure success in their forthcoming hunting campaigns. The Plains people regarded buffaloes as a gift bestowed to them by the supreme creator, since their lives eternally revolved around the buffalo, as they were known to religiously pursue the movements of buffaloes throughout the seasons, except for the winter months. The buffalo was the predominant diet for the Plains Indians, but it was beneficial to them in other ways. After the buffalo was culled, it was mostly the women within the community that were responsible for preparing its carcass for consumption. Every section of the buffalo would be utilized, its liver and kidneys would be eaten raw as a delicacy. The wool acquired from the buffalo was used for making garments, while its hide was used for clothing, footwear and building tents. The fat obtained from the buffalo was used for candle wax and various oil lubricants, while the horns and bones were used to create medicines, tools, and utensils. The buffalo's intestines were useful as a cooking vessel, also, the creature's brain was used as an agent for tanning hides, and even buffalo dung had a use by providing fuel for fire. The native Indians also regarded dangerous adversaries such as bears, and especially wolfs as sacred creatures, and over many centuries each one has had legends attributed to it, particularly the wolf. Interestingly, the origin of myths such as the legend of the werewolf can be traced back to beliefs and folklores told down the centuries by native Americans, and in general throughout their history animal symbolism was of great cultural significance for most or even all native Americans.

The Sacred Feathers

Many of the ancient tribes of America, particularly North American tribes, regarded the eagle to be the most sacred and revered of all creatures. When a feather from an eagle's wings descends to the earth and it is acquired by a human, it is perceived as a conduit of the energy forces carried by that creature throughout its life, and it is widely thought to be a sacred connection between the creator of everything that exists upon this earth, and the bird from whence the feather was obtained. The eagle is deeply revered not only because of the sacred energies thought to be imbued within their feathers, but also, because the eagle is considered to be the most powerful and courageous of all birds and whose flights can carry them above and beyond the highest mountains, as such, their feathers were thought to symbolize divinity, courage, strength and endurance, qualities which are deemed to be gifted to the wearer of such feathers. Different bird species had an important significance for the different indigenous tribes of America, the Crow people was called, Apsaalooke, which means children of the large-beaked bird, and the Golden eagle was the religious symbol for the Comanches, once upon a time lord of the plains, meanwhile, the Bald eagle was sacred to the Cherokee Indians. The individual colour of a bird's feather is thought to have certain positive impressions upon the human mind due to their connection to certain energy points (Chakras) within the human body. The ancient indigenous people of America were said to have adhered to a wide range of religious beliefs respectively, including monotheistic, polytheistic, henotheistic, shamanistic, pantheistic, which is a belief that the supreme being equates with the laws and forces of the Universe. But arguably, the most interesting religion is called animism, which is a belief that all natural objects, such as plants, animals, mountains, rocks, rivers, the earth, and even the various forms of weather phenomena are individual spirits, and each are perceived as powerful revered entities.

The First European Explorers Of America

Leif Erikson (born 970 AD - died 1020 AD) was a Viking explorer, who was said to be the first European to discover North America, around 1,000 AD. Erikson allegedly established the first settlement on the newly discovered continent which he named Vinland, a region situated in coastal North America. About 500 years later, the famous Italian voyager Christopher Columbus (born 1451 - died 1506), discovered North America around 1492, after which many Europeans voyaged across the seas to be amongst the first to establish new colonies on the new found land. The first European settlers brought animals that were never before witnessed on that continent such as horses, donkeys, mules, various breeds of European dogs, and a multitude of different farm animals, some of which were male and female longhorns, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and even honeybees were successfully imported into North America. The European settlers also brought their building and farming tools with them, and they introduced crops such as wheat, rice, rye, and barley, as well as fruits such as apples, peaches and oranges which were all new to that continent. The European settlers had arrived with great aspirations to cultivate lands in order to produce agriculture, and to build new settlements for themselves and future generations. However, the initial encounters between the indigenous people of that continent, and the first European immigrants was one of deep suspicion and hostility, which over time became a tragically irreconcilable situation that eventually led to conflict.

Multitudes of Europeans had descended upon the new world from various parts of Europe such as Spain, Holland, France, and Britian, many were seeking adventure on the new frontier as well as their fortunes, particularly by way of the highly lucrative North American fur trade. Meanwhile, other Europeans had immigrated to the promised land to escape religious persecution or to acquisition a section of land upon which to build a new home, and with the fervent hope of creating a better life for themselves and their families. Precisely when and how the troubles between the European settlers and the native Indians began is debatable, as there are not enough in-depth historical accounts that convey the viewpoint of the native Indians regarding their homeland being invaded and their natural way of life being severely disrupted by the early European settlers, but given that the Europeans possessed more sophisticated weapons and armies, many Europeans had arrived with overwhelming feelings of hubris and a great sense of superiority over the native communities that they had encountered. Undoubtedly, there were some good-natured souls on both sides with the intention to create good relations, learn each other's languages, religions, and way of life with a view to live in peaceful coexistence. On the other hand, many on either side refused to compromise their ideals which eventually led to war and destruction. Scores of European settlers, especially from within the higher echelons of society, had asserted their authority by forcefully and ruthlessly confiscating territories from the much-aggrieved indigenous residents of those regions. The Europeans seized vast areas upon which to establish, cotton, sugar, and tobacco plantations in order to generate a lucrative and sustainable source of wealth, a pivotal moment in American history, which marked the beginning of the African Slave Trade in America. The Europeans had high ambitions to build many new settlements for their rapidly expanding communities and future generations, however, ultimately, the process of European colonization precipitated a dramatic decline in the population of the indigenous people of America, the contributing factors were new European diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza to which the indigenous tribes had very low immunity resistance, while the other debilitating factors were wars, ethnic cleansing, and enslavement. But surprisingly to some, modern historians and scholars are in wide agreement, albeit controversially, that it was the smallpox epidemics which caused the greatest loss of life for the native Indians of America.