Maps of Native American Tribes in the United States

Laurie Bacigalupi

M2 Journal Blog

July 2016

What source did you review and who created it? What perspective do you think it is meant to convey?

The source that I reviewed was Maps of Native American Tribes in the United States. It is hosted by rootsweb and it is part of ancestry.com community. This website was very helpful in trying to visualize the forced migration of the native people. I think the perspective that this source is trying to convey is how much of an impact it made on the United States. In the atlas I read about the Trail Of Tears and how the majority of the tribal population in the Southeast was relocated to Indian Territory, Oklahoma (Treuer p.69). While reading the stories about this time it was hard to imagine what it was like to be forced out of your home. On the web source link, I can see from the maps timeline that by 1854, Indian Territory covered only the area west of Arkansas and Missouri, from the Red River to the Missouri River, and west to the 100th Meridian. The Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole occupied all of what is now Oklahoma, except the panhandle.  Others had been relocated to what would later become Kansas and Nebraska (rootsweb). After viewing the maps I could really see the impact of the migration.

Why do you think these web resources where selected and put into this course and not others? What makes a quality academic website and do you think the website you reviewed is one?

I believe these web resources were put into this course to be helpful. I believe the resources are there to help and expand our knowledge and understanding of the Native Americans. It helps us understand the Native American culture and history more in depth. I believe these resources were put in this course specifically because it helps us in understanding there are resources out there to help in our understanding. I believe it is our job as Americans to educate ourselves on our country’s history.

I do believe that the source I reviewed is a quality website. Researching the genealogy of families who belonged to those Nations/Tribes obviously requires tracing them back to their homelands (rootsweb). With this website it gives factual information that is useful in understanding specifically “Indian Territory” and the many different meanings through the years. From the timeline maps you can see the different Indian Territory’s and how the migration impacted it. ). In 1831 the Shawnee were forced to sign a treaty in which they surrendered their land and moved to Ottawa County, Olklahoma. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, enabled the tribe to establish a modern tribal government (Treuer p.162). On the websites maps you can see where the Shawnee tribe was and where their territory’s moved through history.

Has the information you have read thus far changed, in some way, your view of native communities?

The information I have read has changed my views on native communities. Honestly, I did not know too much about the community’s history or where they are in Modern day today. One example that specifically stands out is how the Seminole is one of the most financially successful tribes owning and operating businesses such as Hard Rock restaurants and casinos. However have not forgotten about the land, water and lifeways that sustained their ancestors (Treuer p.70).