For many years, cinema has brought us closer to knowing and not forgetting aspects of life in the old American West. The first “western” that was filmed was in 1903. “Assault and robbery of a train” only lasts 11 minutes, but it was the first film of a genre that would have its heyday between the 40s and 60s of the 20th century.
Also known as “cowboys and Indians” films, they showed us the ways of life of the ethnic groups and tribes that populated the vast North American land.
Each tribe was characterized by its own customs and languages. In fact, it is estimated that some 300 languages coexisted before the arrival of the Europeans (Spanish first and English and French later).
Each tribe was characterized by its own customs and languages. In fact, it is estimated that some 300 languages coexisted before the arrival of the Europeans (first the Spanish, then the English and French).
Some peoples were nomadic, like the Sioux, and others were sedentary like the Apaches, who had a great handling of agriculture and livestock.
When the Europeans arrived, there was a relegation of all the natives to smaller and smaller areas until they were relegated to reservations in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Some American "Indians" have adapted to the new times and began to take advantage of tourism in different areas. The Arapahoe, for example, built casinos. The Seminole Indians, on other hand, bought the “Hard Rock Café” restaurant chain and were the first to engage in the tobacco trade.
Today, there are about 2 million Native American people in the United States and Canada still surviving, distributed among 54 tribes..
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