Indian Chief

This photograph was taken in 1908 by Edward Curtis. It shows an Indian Chief named White Shield. I love the work Edward Curtis did in capturing these images of Native Americans.

Bows and Arrows

This photograph shows Native Americans, with bows and arrows pointed skyward. This is part of the Atsina Crazy Dance. The picture was taken in 1908 by Edward Curtis.

Eskimo Family

This photograph shows an Eskimo Family. The picture was made in 1929 by Edward Curtis. I wish I knew more about the history of these indigenous people.

I wonder if there are any Eskimos still living the traditional lifestyle in Igloos, or have all these people moved into modern lifestyles?

Indian Dancers

This photograph was taken in 1914 by Edward Curtis. He called the picture, "Dancing to restore an eclipsed moon". The picture shows Kwakiutl people dancing in a circle around a smoking fire, in an effort to cause a sky creature, which they believe swallowed the moon, to restore it.

Indian with Bow and Arrow

This picture was taken in 1913, and shows an Indian man stringing his bow. This has to be one of my all-time favorite Native American photographs.

I find it sad that this traditional way of life of these people has been lost. Sometimes when I think about history, I imagine what things might have been like if events had unfolded a little different. I think some of the original treaties signed by the US with the Native Americans might have been fair. I think the problem is we kept reneging on the deals until the Native Americans ended up with just about nothing. What if we had not killed off the buffalo, and what if we had honored the initial treaties with the Indians. There might still be people living this traditional way of life. Now wouldn't that be something?

Native American Man

This photograph was taken by Edward Curtis, and shows a Native American man. I love these old Curtis photos, but wish we knew more about the people in the pictures. There stories are left to our imagineations.

Buffalo Bill

This picture was taken in 1907, and shows Buffalo Bill Cody on horseback, riding beside a Native American. It is assumed that the photo was taken at one of his Wild West shows. His show ran from 1882 to 1917, and has been called the most successful traveling show of all times.

Apache on Horseback

This picture was taken in 1903, and shows 4 Apache men on horseback crossing a stream. The photograph was taken by Edward Curtis.

Zuni Man

This is a wonderful portrait of a Native American man. It was taken in 1903 by Edward Curtis. The man is part of the Zuni tribe.

Native American Child

This photograph was taken in 1905, and shows a young Native American child. The photograph was taken by Edward Curtis. These Native American photographs are among my favorites.

Chief Two Guns White Calf

Today we feature a portrait of Chief Two Guns White Calf. In case you think he looks familiar, there is a good reason. His likeness was used on the American Buffalo Nickel.

Native Americans on Horseback

This photograph was taken in 1908, and shows a group of Native American men on horseback. The photograph is by Edward Curtis. These Native American photographs from this era are always sad to me, as you see such a distinct way of life coming to an end.

Cheyenne Warriors

Today we feature a photograph of Cheyenne Warriors on horseback. It was on this day, November 29, in the year 1864, that US military forces massacred hundreds of Cheyenne noncombatants in the Colorado Territory.

Nez perce

Today we feature a photograph of a Nez Perce Native American. The photograph was taken in 1910. It is really sad to me to look at pictures of Native Americans from this time period. This man would have no doubt remembered the traditional way of life, and he has lived to see that way disappear.

Native American Woman

This is a photograph of a Native American Woman. The photograph was taken in 1924 by Edward Curtis. The woman is not identified by name, but it is indicated that she is part of the Desert Cahuilla tribe.

Tipis

This picture was taken in 1910, and shows Native American Tipis by the water's edge. A small group can be seen sitting in front of the dwellings. This is a Piegan Indian camp.

Jicarilla Cowboy

We often think of Cowboys and Indians . . . as if they were always separate groups. This is a picture of a man that was both a Cowboy and an Indian. The photo was taken in 1905 by Edward Curtis. Curtis called the man the "Jicarilla Cowboy".

Renegade Apache Geronimo

Today we feature a photograph of Renegade Apache Chief Geronimo. Geronimo led numerous raids against both US and Mexican interests in the years between 1858 and 1886. At one point, over 5,000 US troops were assigned to capture Geronimo. This represented about 25% of the entire US army at the time. He and his band of warriors were among the last group of Native Americans to submit to US government authority. This last vestige of Native American independence came to an end on this day (September 4) in the year 1886 as Geronimo surrendered to General Nelson Miles near Skeleton Canyon, Arizona.

Medicine Man

This photograph shows a Sioux Medicine Man. His name was Slow Bull. The picture was taken in 1907 by Edward Curtis

The Invocation

Today we feature a picture of a Sioux Indian in Prayer. We call the photograph, "The Invocation". It was taken in 1907 by Edward S. Curtis.