Map of Aboriginal America Showing the Distribution and Territorial Limits of the Indian Nations in the New World

Colorful map of the United States and Canada showing the distribution and early territorial extent of native tribes.

This map was extracted from either the People’s Cyclopedia or The Columbian Atlas of the World We Live In, and displays various Native American tribes and their territorial extent. The information provided can best be described as speculative and simplistic – many native tribes were constantly on the move. Forced migrations by government officials, wars and incursions by other tribes, or fluctuations in migratory patterns of buffalo herds all compelled movement. Although the Cherokees here are depicted in the American South, many of them were forcefully relocated to the Indian Territory via the Trail of Tears. In addition, there were many subgroups, confederations, and other elements of native political organization that are not depicted.

That’s not to say the map isn’t informative. It successfully illustrates the origin of many place names in the United States and visually highlights the vast populations of Indians present prior to their near extermination by European settlers.