What is the Oldest Native American Tribe?

If you were hoping the answer was as easy as say, Navajo, or Cherokee, you might be surprised.

In the United States there are 5 and a half million people who identify as having some

The largest of those tribes is Navajo, which has about 340 000 members.

Next is Cherokee with around 290,000, followed by Chippewa, Sioux, Choctaw and Apache.

However, the first settlers into North America likely arrived long before any of these tribes existed.

A 2-Minute History of Human Migration into the Americas

We don't know for sure when and how people first migrated into North America, and there are several theories on how this happened.

North and South America were the last continents to be inhabited by humans, at least 17,000 years ago, but possibly much earlier.

The most common theory is that Nomadic people from Asia moved across the Bering strait into Alaska and settled there.

At the end of the last ice age, Asia and North America were joined by a land bridge called Beringia. This was because sea levels were much lower then.

Humans settled in Alaska, but couldn't go further south because North America was covered in an ice sheet.

When the ice started to melt, a single group of people moved south through a gap in the ice.

Some believe that all Native Americans, both in North and South America, were descendants of this single group.

So using this theory, Native Americans first settled in north-western Alaska.

Some people have suggested that humans could have arrived by boat, traveling close to the shores down the west coast of the continent.

At first it was thought that people arrived about 13000 years ago. This was because of the discovery of a civilization that was called the Clovis.

For many years the Clovis were thought to be the first Native Americans, but over the last 30 years or so, this has been debunked as older discoveries were made.

Here's a crash course in what we've discovered:

1. Folsom New Mexico - 1908 - 10,000 year old remains of an extinct bison were found with spear marks.
2. Bluefish Caves, Yukon - 1994 - 24,000 year old animal bones discovered with human markings.
3. Santa Rosa Island, California - 1969 - 13,000-year-old human bones discovered, suggesting the use of boats.
4. Monte Verde, Chile - 1997 - 14,000 year old human settlement discovered
5. Hoyo Negro, Yucatán, Mexico - 12,000 year old human skeleton discovered in an underwater cave
6. Paisley Oregon - 2008 - 15,000 year old fossilized human feces discovered in a cave.
7. Friedkin site - Texas - 2011 - 15,000 year old human settlement discovered
8. Anzick, Montana - 2014 - 12,500 year old remains of an infant discovered, believed to be of the Clovis culture.

In fact DNA shows that the infant was closely related to Native North Americans of today.

And we believe the Clovis people are the direct ancestors of 80% of all living Native Americans in North and South America.

Which Native American Tribe is the Oldest?

None of these early tribe still exists. Civilizations rise and fall and the human landscape is always changing. So a 'tribe', as we know it is highly unlikely to remain for thousands of years.

You could ask, which of the current Native American tribes is the oldest? But this question isn't any easier.

Before Europeans arrived, we only have oral records to rely on, and these tends to change over generations.

Legends do tell the story of a great migration, including the crossing of a river, possibly the Mississippi.

Origin stories are an important part of Native American culture, but they don't help us to date Native American tribe.

For example, Cherokee tribal history says they have existed since time immemorial.

The Hopi are known among Native Americans as the 'oldest of tribes'.

We do know that the Hopi village of Oraibi in Arizona could be the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the United States, at nearly a thousand years old.

We can also use language to trace the movement of Native Americans. Navajo and Apache are part of the Na-Dené language family, and the first Na-Dene speaking peoples entered North American around 10,000 years ago.

But, the question 'which is the oldest Native American tribe' is complex, and it may never have an answer.

Native American origin stories and ancestry are a important part of their culture.

At the same the science and history is constantly evolving and new discoveries will no doubt challenge what we believe today.

Maybe a better question is how do we keep discovering, while at the same time respecting the culture and history of the Native Americans who live here today.

[skyannefinlayson]

I was born and raised in Blackfoot, and Stoney territory even though I myself am Tla-o-qui-aht which is pronounced: klaw-oh-kwee-awt.
Most plains tribes (not going to say all because I only know what I was taught) lived in Tipis and could/would move camp multiple times a year, so its going to be hard to know how old a certain nation or tribe is simply by "a village"
Also on a different note one Nation can have many separate Tribes or Clans, for example I'm from the Tla-o-qui-aht tribe of Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, which is one of 15 tribes. This part doesn't have to do with the video really just thought this needs to be added to my comment is all.
P.S this i what I was taught by the people who raised me, which were the Blackfeet, Cree, and Ojibwe people throughout my childhood, it might not go with everyone's individual or personal teachings.

[saulteauxfirstnationsman]

Shout out from Canada. My mother is Saulteux and my father is cree. My family travelled down to the states to show support and follow the pow wow trail.

[akbarshabazzjenkins]

There is over 500 Native American Indian tribes and if I were from Indian heritage I would be so proud
God Bless all American Indian tribes ❤🇺🇲❤

[beep.]

Tohono O'odham tribal member here! Of Arizona. 🏹 respect and love to all my Natives!

[johnbrzenksforearm]

Makes you wonder how much history has been intentionally erased by those who were victors in War. There's probably so much history we are unaware of because it was intentionally erased from existence by victors.

[shanegooding]

The Mayan people have definitely been proven to have been around for thousands of years and are still found in their ancient homeland.

[cathleencavanaugh]

My own answer came with all I needed to know.shortly before my aunt died, she told my mother & I all the tribes that traveled from across the country to come to her wedding . it was very helpful. It was the Cherokee, the Wyandotte, the Powhatan& the Kiowa. I was very glad to get this . She was Blackfoot .. Please everyone, seek out the knowledge of the old ones before its too late .

[karlbergen]

Interesting theory: Native Americans are descended from more than one migration from different places and migrating at different times.

[sandimurray]

Just here to put my indigenous Northern Ute tribe of Utah on the map 👌🤝

[skaterdudex]

Cherokee oral migration story says we left an island, travelled north then went east toward the sun. It says we crossed the Mississippi and came across the mound builders and became one with them but rebelled after sacrificing us. It is said we have spoken 4 languages. Modern Cherokee being the last

[randolphangeles]

As my elders say" we have always been here!"

[firewarrior]

In Nevada, the land used to be covered in water. The natives would live on the modern mountains as they were islands. You can find drawing from the old lakes, and caves by where the shores would of been. The lake was thousands of years ago, it really gives you a perspective of how quickly Europeans changed thousands of years of history.

[caylapelkey]

Greetings & positive vibes from Croatan ( north carolina)....# weareone

[tommymcallister]

I enjoy history no matter who it concerns it adds to my overall knowledge and I treat all races religion with the utmost respect they deserve as we all do!!!!

[redman]

There were a number of facts left out of this video. First Some tribes DID have written/printed History. Both the Aztecs and Mayans did. Secondly as far as the Origins of American Indians goes look no further than YAKUTSK! They even have "totem" poles there that the "Yellow Russians" Dance around.

[hughbarton]

Among many tribes of the Northeastern United States, there is a belief that the tribe now called the Delawares ( also known by the name Lenni Lenape ) were the ancestors of the Iroquois, the Powhatten, and many others. They were apparently held in high regard, and the name given to them in various tribal languages translates to The Grandfathers.
This has not been established as fact, although their origin story does seem to describe a journey across the continent to the East Coast.
This idea was widespread enough that in the 19th century, an American who had worked extensively with Native Americans claimed to have found written accounts of this in a pictographic
language which he called "The Red Record" .that he subsequently published. It has not been scientifically confirmed, and there are some doubts as to its authenticity.

[lemhanback]

I would think that last question posed could be the most important one to answer. How can we learn more about Native cultures while respecting their beliefs. I would say open a free communication and granting those that are left the right to freely be who they are. That might be a good start. Just hope it's not already too late for that.

[oso]

Yáh'áh'téh that means hello in Navajo greetings from the Navajo Nation USA
How many natives here

[jaredthomaseuper]

I have been to San Ignacio Belize and it has been inhabited for 5, 000 years. It has awesome pyramids. Also, I live in Oklahoma and a 17, 000 year old native site was discovered on Beaver River in the panhandle a few years ago via LIDAR..

[haeuptlingaberja]

Fact is that the timeline keeps getting pushed further and further back. We're approaching 30, 000 years at this point. And what we seem to forget is that time is a very, very efficient eraser. Civilizations could have arisen and fallen many times over much, much longer timeframes...