Native America
Native America explores the world created by America’s First Peoples. The four part series reaches back 15,000 years to reveal massive cities aligned to the stars, unique systems of science and spirituality, and 100 million people connected by social networks spanning two continents.
Episode 1 Preview | From Caves to Cosmos
S1 Ep1 | 30s
Ancient clues and modern science answer the question: who were America’s First Peoples?
Extended Interview: The Earliest Cave Paintings in America
S1 Ep1 | 2m 58s
Anna Roosevelt dates the cave paintings in Brazil’s Amazon jungle to 13,000 years ago.
Extended Interview: David Carrasco on Shared Beliefs
S1 Ep1 | 4m 24s
Illuminating the similarities of the religious beliefs shared across the Americas.
Extended Interview: The Importance of Names
S1 Ep1 | 2m 36s
Zuni elder Jim Enote explains how Native names for places provides important information.
Chaco Chocolate
S1 Ep1 | 2m 29s
Archaeology reveals trade with Chaco, including chocolate and precious metals.
Ancient Amazon Peoples
S1 Ep1 | 3m 3s
Ancient art suggests people have been in the Americas much longer than previously thought.
Zuni Maps
S1 Ep1 | 2m 21s
Jim Enote uses ancient petroglyphs and contemporary art to recreate Zuni maps.
The Best Time to Paddle
S1 Ep1 | 1m 29s
The Chumash continue canoe paddling traditions to connect to their ancestors.
Episode 2 Preview | Nature to Nations
S1 Ep2 | 30s
Explore the rise of great American nations, from monarchies to democracies.
Extended Interview: Beau Dick on the Family of Mankind
S1 Ep2 | 2m 10s
Beau Dick, the late great Kwakwaka’wakw chief and artist reflects on the power of family.
Extended Interview: Jim Enote on Lessons from Farming
S1 Ep2 | 1m 57s
Zuni elder Jim Enote reflects on lessons learned from farming.
Extended Interview: Leigh Kuwanwisiwma on Corn as Teacher
S1 Ep2 | 2m 30s
Hopi elder Leigh Kuwanwisiwma has learned many life lessons from corn.
Extended Interview: G. Peter Jemison on the Longhouse
S1 Ep2 | 4m 41s
The Seneca faithkeeper on how the longhouse was constructed and what it meant.
Traditional Wampum Belts
S1 Ep2 | 2m 47s
Marcus Hendricks continues the tradition of making Wampum beads by hand.
Clan Mother
S1 Ep2 | 1m 56s
The history and mythology of Clan Mothers and continued female leadership.
Extended Interview: Religion at Teotihuacan
S1 Ep3 | 2m 38s
Harvard professor of Religion David Carrasco speaks on religion and Teotihuacan.
Extended Interview: Ian Thompson on Ancient Earthen Mounds
S1 Ep3 | 3m 35s
The Choctaw scholar reflects on the ancient tradition of earthen mounds and mound culture.
Extended Interview: Ian Thompson on the Trail of Tears
S1 Ep3 | 4m 28s
The Choctaw scholar reflects on the bitter chapter of history known as the Trail of Tears.
Cahokia’s Celestial Calendar (Woodhenge)
S1 Ep3 | 2m 13s
An archaeology team work to uncover remains of a celestial calendar at Cahokia.
Lidar Mapping
S1 Ep3 | 2m 23s
Cahokia researchers uses new LiDAR technology to map the layout of this ancient city.
The Governor’s Palace
S1 Ep3 | 3m 7s
Why this magnificent structure is built at an angle to the rest of the city.
Episode 4 Preview | New World Rising
S1 Ep4 | 30s
Discover how resistance, survival and revival are revealed.
Episode 3 Preview | Cities of the Sky
S1 Ep3 | 30s
Discover the cosmological secrets behind America’s ancient cities.
Extended Interview: Diana Magaloni on the Power of Pigments
S1 Ep4 | 2m 52s
Illuminating the extraordinary measures Aztec artists took to record their culture.
Extended Interview: Evidence of the Comanche
S1 Ep4 | 2m 15s
With help, the archaeologist finds evidence of the illusive Comanche.
Extended Interview: Severin Fowles on Native Science
S1 Ep4 | 1m 25s
Archaeologist Severin Fowles re-imagines Native religion as Native science.
Extended Interview: Burning a Forest to Revive a People
S1 Ep4 | 3m 23s
Valentin Lopez, of the Amah Mutsun, uses fire to save his peoples culture.
Comanche Horse Traditions
S1 Ep4 | 1m 59s
Horses continue to be an important part of Comanche identity and tradition.
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