44 Amazing Photographs of Native American Girls From around 1900

Native Americans, also known as American Indians, Indians, Indigenous Americans and other terms, are the indigenous peoples of the United States.

A vast variety of peoples, societies and cultures subsequently developed. Native Americans were greatly affected by the European colonization of the Americas, which began in 1492, and their population declined precipitously due to introduced diseases, warfare, and slavery.

After the founding of the United States, many Native American peoples were subjected to warfare, removals, and one-sided treaties, and they continued to suffer from discriminatory government policies into the 20th century.

Since the 1960s, the self-determination movement has resulted in many changes to the lives of Native Americans. Today, there are over five million Native Americans in the United States.

Five young Hopi Indian girls standing in a row in the village of Shonguapavi

Four Mojave Indian children standing in front of a small dwelling with a thatched roof, near Yuma

Five young Hopi Indian girls with an old Hopi Indian man sitting on stone steps in the village of Shonguapavi

Chemehuevi Indian woman and young girl in their native dwelling

Chemehuevi Indian girl

Apache Indian girl carrying an olla (a water basket) on her head

 A group of Hopi children on the Dance Plaza at Walpi (Walpai), Arizona

Hopi girls learning to sew, Arizona

Hopi children from a well-to-do family waiting for the Snake Dance at the pueblo of Walpi, Arizona

Havasupai Indian girl, Walathama's daughter, sitting outside

Havasupai girl making a basket

 Group of nine Havasupai girls playing 'Hue-ta-queech-e-ka'

Group of Laguna Indians at Paquate, New Mexico

Hopi Indian girls standing in a row in the village of Oraibi

School girl mandolin orchestra at Mission Assistencia of San Antonio, Pala, California

Navajo Indian girl weaving a blanket

Navajo Indian girl standing in front of an adobe dwelling

Hopi matron, maiden, and small child, Arizona

Hopi Indian girl with a baby

Hopi Indian girl sitting outside

Hopi Indian boy pretending to use a bow and arrow against a Hopi Indian girl

Two young Pima Indian school girls

Two young Chemehuevi Indian girls making a drink from mesquite beans

Two Mojave Indians girls standing in front of a small dwelling with a thatched roof

Two Hopi Indian children standing outside

Small group of Yuma Indian girls posing at the government Indian School at Yuma

Small group of Yuma Indian girls posing at the government Indian School at Yuma

 School girl playing a mandolin at Mission Assistencia of San Antonio, Pala, California

Western-educated Paiute Indian girl, Yosemite Valley

 Walapai Indian school girl, Hackbury, Arizona

Walapai Indian school girl, Hackbury, Arizona

Walapai Indian girl water carrier, Hackbury, Arizona

 Walapai Indian ex-school girl with painted face, Hackbury, Arizona

Two young Walapai Indian school girls, Kingman, Arizona

Two young Walapai Indian mothers with their children on their backs, Hackbury, Arizona

Walapai Indian girl water carrier, Hackbury, Arizona

Walapai Indian girl water carrier drinking from her olla, Hackbury, Arizona

Hopi Indian girl with hair worn up in large buns at the side of her head

Hopi Indian girl standing outside, Oraibi, Arizona

Hopi Indian girl sitting outside

Havasupai Indian girl, Waluthama's daughter, carrying an 'Olla' or water jug

Havasupai Indian girl carrying a 'Kathak' on her back

Chemehuevi Indian girl

Yokut Indian girl of school age, Tule River Reservation near Porterville, California