Who were the indigenous people of the USA? - Info sheet

The indigenous people of the United States, often known as Native Americans, American Indians, or First Americans, embody a profound historical presence within the nation. There are currently 574 federally recognised tribes across the United States, each with its own distinct culture, language, and history. These Native American communities are the descendants of the original inhabitants who migrated to what is now the United States over 15,000 years ago, long before European explorers and settlers arrived.

The history of Native Americans is marked by conflict and struggle, particularly following the establishment of the United States. Government policies of settler colonialism led to numerous wars, massacres, and the forceful removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands. These actions were often justified through discriminatory policies and unfair treaties. Today, there are over five million Native Americans residing in the United States, with significant populations in California, Arizona, and Oklahoma. Though originally treated as semi-independent nations, Native American tribes' sovereignty was significantly reduced after the Indian Appropriations Act of 1871, which ceased the recognition of their independence and began to treat them as "domestic dependent nations" under federal law.