All about the ancient tribes
Indian Tribes and Languages of South America
Abipon Indian tribe | Achagua Indian tribe |
---|---|
Quechua/ Inca Indian tribe | Remo Indian tribe |
Saluma Indian tribe | Sabane Indian tribe |
Shanenawa Indian tribe | Sharanahua Indian tribe |
Siona Indian tribe | Siriano Indian tribe |
The Norte Chico civilization in Peru is the oldest civilization in the Americas and one of the first six independent civilizations in the world; it was contemporaneous with the Egyptian pyramids. It predated the Mesoamerican Olmec by nearly two millennia.
These are Peru, where 45% are indigenous and Bolivia, where 62% of people identify as feeling a part of some indigenous group. Indigenous peoples of South America.
Total population | |
---|---|
Approximately 32 million | |
Peru | 14.1 million (2017) |
Bolivia | 7.02 million (2016 est.) |
Ecuador | 4.5 million (2016 est.) |
The Cherokee tribe is the second most common, with 285,476 Americans identifying with that group. 2010 Census Data.
Name | Population |
---|---|
Navajo | 308,013 |
Cherokee | 285,476 |
Sioux | 131,048 |
Chippewa | 115,859 |
The word Indian came to be used because Christopher Columbus repeatedly expressed the mistaken belief that he had reached the shores of South Asia. Convinced he was correct, Columbus fostered the use of the term Indios (originally, “person from the Indus valley”) to refer to the peoples of the so- called New World.
Mapuche, the most numerous group of Indians in South America.
According to an autosomal genetic study from 2012, Native Americans descend from at least three main migrant waves from East Asia. Most of it is traced back to a single ancestral population, called ‘First Americans’.
Some Polynesians Carry DNA of Ancient Native Americans, New Study Finds. A new genetic study suggests that Polynesians made an epic voyage to South America 800 years ago. About 3,000 years ago, people on the eastern edge of Asia began sailing east, crossing thousands of miles of ocean to reach uninhabited islands.
Although most of Latin America was colonized by Spain, the countries of Portugal and France also had major influences on the region. Due to war and disease, native populations were decimated. The European countries’ demand for free labor led them to engage in the African slave trade.
South America is thought to have been first inhabited by humans when people were crossing the Bering Land Bridge (now the Bering Strait) at least 15,000 years ago from the territory that is present-day Russia. They migrated south through North America, and eventually reached South America through the Isthmus of Panama.
Religion in South America has been a major influence on art, culture, philosophy and law. Christianity is the main religion, with Roman Catholics having the most adherents. Sizeable minorities of non-religious people and adherents of other religions are also present.
According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), “ American Indian or Alaska Native ” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America ( including Central America ) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
Today, the Shakopee Mdewakanton are believed to be the richest tribe in American history as measured by individual personal wealth: Each adult, according to court records and confirmed by one tribal member, receives a monthly payment of around $84,000, or $1.08 million a year.
Tribal group | Total | American Indian/Alaska Native alone |
---|---|---|
Total | 4,119,301 | 2,475,956 |
American Indian tribes | ||
Cherokee | 729,533 | 299,862 |
Navajo | 298,197 | 275,991 |
What is the correct terminology: American Indian, Indian, Native American, or Native? All of these terms are acceptable. The consensus, however, is that whenever possible, Native people prefer to be called by their specific tribal name.