304 Items Tagged

Indigenous

In western Bolivia and southeastern Peru, angels are armed and ready—like the one shown in this 17th-century painting, <em>Asiel Timor Dei</em>.

Decoding the Gun-Wielding Angels of Bolivia

The 'angeles arcabuceros' morphed from Catholic messengers to symbols of Indigenous independence.

Amy Crawford November 30, 2023

Wildlife biologist Serra Hoagland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, is bridging Indigenous traditions and modern methods.

7 Memorable Stories to Mark Native American Heritage Month

Tales of tradition, erasure, resilience, and dancing.

April White November 17, 2023

A late 16th-century map notes the territory of "Calos" near the southern tip of Florida, but the Calusa actually controlled most of the peninsula's southwest.

Long Before the First Thanksgiving, an Artificial Island in Florida Hosted a Cross-Cultural Feast

Decades before the Wampanoag and Pilgrims shared a meal, the powerful Calusa and their Spanish guests celebrated their new alliance. Spoiler alert: It didn't last.

Karuna Eberl November 15, 2023

The Serpent Mound in Ohio, as beautiful as it is impressive, has endured centuries of misuse and misinterpretation.

In Ohio, Ancient Mounds and Earthworks Gain Recognition—But Remain Imperiled

Built by Native Americans, Serpent Mound and other spectacular ancient monuments have endured centuries of abuse and neglect. That's finally changing.

Stephen Warren November 13, 2023

Estero, Florida

Mound Key Archaeological State Park

Long before Europeans arrived, Native Americans built an artificial island out of shells that has withstood a millennia of hurricanes.

objects of intrigue

A 500-Year-Old Record of the Aztec Empire Comes to Life

The Digital Florentine Codex’s three languages and thousands of hand-painted illustrations provide a window into culture, war, and daily life.

Roxanne Hoorn November 8, 2023

Archaeology professor Sissel Schroeder sweeps her iPhone over a dugout at the Milwaukee Public Museum to capture images for a 3D model.

Dugout Canoes, the 'Pickup Trucks' of Their Day, Go Digital in Wisconsin

For millennia, people used dugouts for transport and trade. Now, an ambitious project is preserving the canoes virtually and revealing new details.

Susan Cosier November 6, 2023

Union, Kentucky

Diorama Pit at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site

A life-sized recreation of the megafauna that once roamed this region is a feature at the birthplace of American paleontology.

Sponsored by Meet Northern Kentucky

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

First Americans Museum

The largest single-building tribal cultural center in the U.S. is an expansive museum in Oklahoma City.

Sponsored by Visit Oklahoma City

The bright colors of a monarch butterfly (<em>Danaus plexippus</em>), just like the boldly striped caterpillars of the species, warn predators to stay away.

The Monarch Butterfly Steals From Poisonous Plants to Survive

The butterfly defends itself using milkweed, just one of several plants packed with heart-stopping toxins that may also be in your medicine cabinet.

Noah Whiteman October 25, 2023

In Maine, the Art of Basketry Hangs On By a Thread

Sponsored by Maine Office of Tourism

There are at least 20 Māori names for the New Zealand fantail, a beloved native bird often seen as a messenger between worlds.

Does the New Zealand Fantail Connect the Human and Spirit Realms?

The bird is sometimes considered an omen of death, but in Māori tradition, that's just one part of its story.

Roxanne Hoorn October 20, 2023

Calvosa Olson's cooking combines her Karuk and Italian heritage.

native americans

The Karuk Cook Restoring California’s Native Cuisine, One Acorn at a Time

Sara Calvosa Olson's cookbook shares delicious recipes and stories celebrating the oak's nut.

Naomi Tomky September 14, 2023

Podcast: Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center

Lacrosse can trace its origins back centuries to the Native American "Creator's Game."

The Podcast Team September 13, 2023

Wisconsin's Wolf River, which flows through the Menominee Indian Reservation, where Indigenous traditions guide sustainable forestry.

In Wisconsin, the Menominee Tribe's Sustainable Forestry Is Visible From Space

The Menominee Tribe's tradition of doing "what's best for the forest" has become a global model for sustainability.

Fred Pearce September 11, 2023

Puerto Nariño, Colombia

Fundación Natütama

From pink dolphins to underwater cities, this museum explores the unseen, mythical world of the Amazon river.

Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska Native Heritage Center

See a full-scale whale skeleton and experience the captivating culture of Alaska’s Native people at this heritage center in east Anchorage.

A herd of Hereford cattle roam a lush green pasture in Australia, home to several of the world's largest private landholdings.

What Do King Charles III, the Pope, and the Canadian Inuit Have in Common?

Meet the world's largest landowners.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think August 11, 2023