1800s-1900s Portraits Of Native American Teen Girls Show Their Unique Beauty And Style (36 Pics)
These rare and beautiful vintage photos of Native American girls were taken between the late 1800s and the turn of the 19th Century, yet despite being over a hundred years old, many of the old photos are still in mint condition.
Women were well respected in traditional Native American tribe culture, and although they generally had different roles from men, the Native American women often had the same rights as their male counterparts. They usually owned the home along with everything in it, and in some tribes, while the chief was a man, it was the women who were responsible for electing him. Because women's activities were considered central to the welfare of the community in the Native American history, this gave them a certain level of social, political and economic power, and even today approximately 25% of Native American tribes recognized by the federal government of the United States are led by women.
Scroll down below to check these beautiful old photos for yourself! (h/t: vintage everyday)
This post may include affiliate links.
Marcia Pascal, Half-cherokee, Daughter Of U.s. Army Officer George W. Paschal, 1880s
O-o-be, The Kiowas, 1894
This is one of my favorite photos in this lineup. It's great to see a really old photo with a smile, let alone one showing teeth! I was told that because shutter speeds were slower in the early days of photography that photographers required their subjects to stand still for long periods of time to expose the image to the film negative, hence so many photos from the 1800's to 1900's without smiles in them!
Cherokee Nanyehi, Lakota
Native American Girl, 1870-1900
Gertrude Three Finger, Cheyenne, 1869-1904, By William E. Irwin
Hattie Tom, Apache, 1899, By Frank A. Rinehart
Elsie Vance Chestuen, Chiricahua
Native American Girl In Traditional Dress
Taos Pueblo Tribe Girl, 1880-1890
Tsawatenok Girl, 1914, By Edward Curtis
A Girl At Taos Pueblo, 1895, By H.s. Poley
I visited that Pueblo; their sacred places were in the mountains behind the Pueblo.
Hopi Girls, 1900, By Carl Werntz
This was the tribal hairstyle for women was the elaborate squash blossom or butterfly whorls worn by Hopi maidens
Lizzie Long Wolf As A Performer In Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, 1886
Interesting that even though she was in Buffalo Bill's side shows, there isn't really much written about her.
Isabelle Perico Enjady, Chiricahuah Apache Prisoner Of War, 1886-1914
Prisoner of war... there was no war, just invasion and extermination.
Hattie Tom, Chiricahua Apache, 1899, By Frank A. Rinehart
Native American Teen Girls, 1870-1900
I wonder how and why she has the American flag on her lap or dress??
Inusk, Kickapoo Chief's Daughter, By Lenny And Jordan, 1880-1890
Kiowa Girl, 1890
Hopi Girl On Her Wedding Day, 1900
Hopi Girls, 1900, By Frederick Monsen
Alice, Unknown Tribe (possibly Cayuse, Walla Walla, Or Umatilla), 1900
Na-din-praquai-gizay (ramona)
Arapaho Girl Only Child Saved Out Of Sand Creek Massacre, 1870-1880, By Mckinney, Albert S.
It is interesting how back in the day they would only color in one or two items of a photo
Hopi Girls, 1900
and then we raped them, killed their families to stole their lands
I did not.
Me neither or no one I know guilt only lasts so many centuries give it up
Nor did I
As they did to other tribes. Grow the f**k up and quit being a f*****g pussy
and don't forget about parking them into reserves like animals.
Why did you do that, Guimar??? And can you please provide evidence that your entire ancestral line has owned the ground they lived on and didn't take it from anyone back to the dawn of time?
Yes, it was so sad. But it was the Congress of the time that ordered the soliders to steal their land. The raping of women and girl,the killing of men were added extras by those soliders. Our government should be 200% ASHAMED OF ITSELF!!
The "noble warriors" did their fair share of killing, raping and enslaving too before whites ever arrived.
and here i am, wondering what shampoo/conditioner they are using
Native American is not the right term to use as these people are not Americans historically. The should be called the Rightful Inhabitants.
In Canada, they're called First Nation people. Talking to a husband and wife, not quite sure how I should refer to them, he laughed and said it didn't matter to them. Not all feel the same though.
Yes, true Jude, however in French, we call the "Natives" Autochtons as Israel Garcia mentions below for Mexico.... of which may of us French Canadians have their DNA.
Or Original Invaders
In Mexico some of us prefer using the word which translated to english would be something like "autochthon" to refer those people who first inhabited these territories.
Shalom Israel .. I am French Canadian ... From the Province of New Brunswick. Just a little history here... I had my DNA done 12 yrs ago (Family Tree) and in my bank of relatives, ALL were Latinos. How can this be when my people did not travel in those days? Well, we came here via Southern France, while you were brought to "The Americas' by Christopher Columbus...directly from Spain. It all happened during the SPANISH INQUISITION. Who are we? We are Jews my friend. From Jerusalem we left at destruction of the Temple (70AD) This is our real identity Israel. I have done extensive research which I could help you with.
Although many from the US thinks of our country as "America," "America" actually refers to the entire continent. Used correctly, it is not so much a cultural word as a geographic word. We would do well to remember this in our conversations. Assuming that people will know what we're talking about--especially those not from the US--assumes that the US is the best, most natural representation for an entire continent of countries and peoples, none of which is fair or true.
I have heard about this issue many times. I use to think that calling it America might be just a short form of the whole name "United States of America". I live en México and the whole and official name of the country is Estados Unidos Mexicanos (something like United States of Mexico or Mexican United States), but only in few ocassions we use it that form as we prefer to name it only Mexico.
Yes!! Thank you!!!
The land they lived on is now called the Americas. They were native to that land. Thus, they are Native Americans. Get over it.
Aborigines
Just because it's written in a book or on a document, doesn't make it the Truth. These are the True American people. Our race came over on ship. Welcomed them to Dinner and then the Greed took over and then the killing. Nearly Exterminated an Entire Race of Real American people
The more correct archaeological term is "indigenous people". Also called aboriginal people. YMMV
What's the right name to be addressed?
You smokem Chief White Owl..
They are native to the North American Continent, so they are Native Americans. They are more American than we are.
They are native to the North American continent, hence they are Native Americans. They are more American than we are.
They should just be called Americans. And everyone else Invasive Americans.
and then we raped them, killed their families to stole their lands
I did not.
Me neither or no one I know guilt only lasts so many centuries give it up
Nor did I
As they did to other tribes. Grow the f**k up and quit being a f*****g pussy
and don't forget about parking them into reserves like animals.
Why did you do that, Guimar??? And can you please provide evidence that your entire ancestral line has owned the ground they lived on and didn't take it from anyone back to the dawn of time?
Yes, it was so sad. But it was the Congress of the time that ordered the soliders to steal their land. The raping of women and girl,the killing of men were added extras by those soliders. Our government should be 200% ASHAMED OF ITSELF!!
The "noble warriors" did their fair share of killing, raping and enslaving too before whites ever arrived.
and here i am, wondering what shampoo/conditioner they are using
Native American is not the right term to use as these people are not Americans historically. The should be called the Rightful Inhabitants.
In Canada, they're called First Nation people. Talking to a husband and wife, not quite sure how I should refer to them, he laughed and said it didn't matter to them. Not all feel the same though.
Yes, true Jude, however in French, we call the "Natives" Autochtons as Israel Garcia mentions below for Mexico.... of which may of us French Canadians have their DNA.
Or Original Invaders
In Mexico some of us prefer using the word which translated to english would be something like "autochthon" to refer those people who first inhabited these territories.
Shalom Israel .. I am French Canadian ... From the Province of New Brunswick. Just a little history here... I had my DNA done 12 yrs ago (Family Tree) and in my bank of relatives, ALL were Latinos. How can this be when my people did not travel in those days? Well, we came here via Southern France, while you were brought to "The Americas' by Christopher Columbus...directly from Spain. It all happened during the SPANISH INQUISITION. Who are we? We are Jews my friend. From Jerusalem we left at destruction of the Temple (70AD) This is our real identity Israel. I have done extensive research which I could help you with.
Although many from the US thinks of our country as "America," "America" actually refers to the entire continent. Used correctly, it is not so much a cultural word as a geographic word. We would do well to remember this in our conversations. Assuming that people will know what we're talking about--especially those not from the US--assumes that the US is the best, most natural representation for an entire continent of countries and peoples, none of which is fair or true.
I have heard about this issue many times. I use to think that calling it America might be just a short form of the whole name "United States of America". I live en México and the whole and official name of the country is Estados Unidos Mexicanos (something like United States of Mexico or Mexican United States), but only in few ocassions we use it that form as we prefer to name it only Mexico.
Yes!! Thank you!!!
The land they lived on is now called the Americas. They were native to that land. Thus, they are Native Americans. Get over it.
Aborigines
Just because it's written in a book or on a document, doesn't make it the Truth. These are the True American people. Our race came over on ship. Welcomed them to Dinner and then the Greed took over and then the killing. Nearly Exterminated an Entire Race of Real American people
The more correct archaeological term is "indigenous people". Also called aboriginal people. YMMV
What's the right name to be addressed?
You smokem Chief White Owl..
They are native to the North American Continent, so they are Native Americans. They are more American than we are.
They are native to the North American continent, hence they are Native Americans. They are more American than we are.
They should just be called Americans. And everyone else Invasive Americans.