The Indigenous Peoples of the Americas

When people think of the history of the Americas, they often start with Columbus in 1492 or the arrival of European colonists. But long before anyone came to “discover” these lands, the Americas were already home to countless Indigenous nations with rich cultures, deep histories, and complex societies.

From Gaming to Learning

Back in high school, one of my favorite games to play was Sid Meier’s Colonization. It was a strategy game where you managed one of the European powers during the colonization of the New World—exploring, settling, trading, and eventually declaring independence. At the time, I loved the challenge and depth of gameplay.

But looking back now, I realize how little attention the game (and many others like it) gave to the Indigenous peoples who were already living in the Americas. They were often just obstacles to expansion or sources of trade, rather than full civilizations with histories, cultures, and agency. That realization is part of what inspired me to dig deeper into the real stories behind the land we live on.

How Long Have Indigenous Peoples Lived in the Americas?

Indigenous peoples have lived in the Americas for at least 15,000 years, and possibly over 20,000 years, according to archaeological findings. These early peoples likely migrated from Asia via the Bering Land Bridge during the last Ice Age.

They didn’t just survive here—they flourished. Over thousands of years, Indigenous peoples built societies that adapted to nearly every environment across the continent, from icy tundra to tropical rainforests, deserts to coastal plains.

A Continent Full of Nations: Tribes and Civilizations Before Colonization

Before the arrival of Europeans, the Americas were anything but empty. They were alive with hundreds of distinct Indigenous nations, each with their own systems of government, spirituality, language, and trade.

In North America:

• The Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee): An alliance of six nations in the Northeast, known for their democratic governance and strong influence on political thought.
• The Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi): Builders of vast cities and cliff dwellings in the American Southwest. Their legacy lives on through Pueblo peoples like the Hopi and Zuni.
• The Mississippian Culture: Known for large ceremonial mound cities like Cahokia, which had tens of thousands of residents around 1100 CE.
• Plains Nations (e.g., Lakota, Cheyenne, Comanche): Master horse riders and stewards of the Great Plains, with rich oral traditions and warrior cultures.
• Southeastern Tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole): Known for complex societies, written languages, and vibrant political structures long before European contact.
• The Inuit and Yupik: Arctic peoples with remarkable survival skills, technologies, and environmental knowledge in some of the harshest climates on Earth.

In Mesoamerica and South America:

• The Maya: Known for their mathematical and astronomical knowledge, and for building magnificent cities in Central America that still stand today.
• The Aztec (Mexica): Builders of a powerful empire centered in Tenochtitlán, a city more populous and advanced than most European capitals at the time.
• The Inca Empire: Stretched thousands of miles along the Andes, with an extensive road system and monumental stone architecture like Machu Picchu.
• The Taino and Arawak: Indigenous Caribbean peoples with vibrant cultures, agriculture, and trade networks long before European explorers arrived.

After Contact: A Time of Massive Change

The arrival of European powers brought immense change to the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Colonization led to land loss, forced relocations, cultural disruptions, and resistance that still echoes today.

Still, Indigenous communities endured—and continue to endure. Across North and South America, Indigenous nations today are reclaiming their languages, traditions, and sovereignty while continuing to contribute to science, arts, politics, and environmental stewardship.

Games like Colonization and others shaped how many of us first encountered the history of the Americas. But those narratives often left out the full story. The truth is, Indigenous peoples weren’t just side characters in someone else’s saga—they were here first, and their histories run deep.

Learning these stories helps reshape how we understand history, recognize the ongoing presence of Indigenous nations, and support a more honest and respectful relationship with the land and its first peoples.