Enduring Peoples July 29, 2008

'Enduring Peoples' examines the lifeways of American Indians living on the Northern Plains and near the Rocky Mountains, and illustrates how they have retained their cultural identities despite the great challenges. Traditionally these peoples followed the vast herds of bison that once covered the region. As Euro-Americans moved onto the lands that American Indians had lived on for generations, conflicts became inevitable. Ultimately, the American Indians of the region were forced onto small areas of land that they reserved for themselves in their negotiations with the government of the United States. American Indians continue to preserve many of their traditions through ceremonies, religious rituals, languages and stories.