In each state of the United States of America, native Americans organize cultural gatherings called Pow-wow. Each of such includes parades, dancing, singing, even the Miss Indian competition.

North American Indians come from many distinct bands, tribes and ethnic groups. They are often mixed in blood with immigrated American populace of African, Asian, European and other peoples.

When Europeans first encountered Alaska Natives in early 18th century, there were many of tribes and language groups. For the Native population of Alaska, the coming of Russians was a huge disaster. Indians were forced to work for invaders, hostages were taken, families split up. Violence and European diseases destroyed almost 80% of Aleut Indian population.

Several distinctive cultures developed on the Pacific Northwest coast from today's Washington state, USA in the south through coastal British Columbia, Canada to the top of the Alaskan panhandle. The cultures were very similar in some ways and remarkably diverse in others.

The deep canyons, rock palisades, high mesas, and open desert of the corner region of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona were home to a remarkable group of agricultural people that we call the Anasazi. They lived here from approximately 500 BC. In 1300 AD Anasazi Indians abandoned their cliff dwellings, villages or other settlements and moved south joining with other tribes. What was the reason for this departure? Some theories say that hostile neighbors forced them out. Others say that an overpopulation and a long lasting drought made the area uninhabitable. Probably a combination of many factors caused Anasazi people to leave their homes.

The Great Smoky Mountains located on Tennessee - North Carolina border are a homeland of the Cherokee Indians, a nation with rich heritage. Long before Columbus discovered a 'New World' they ruled a huge land that is now parts of eight states of the USA.