Description
An arrow is usually the part of a bow and arrow that is shot, but there are also throwing arrows and special types for blowguns, and many more variations; see Other arrows. Over the centuries, arrows have been made in all sorts of shapes and from various materials. Clamps, glue, or thin binding material were used for their construction, sometimes in combination. Because the archer wanted all his arrows to perform equally, making arrows required great attention to detail. The arrow that is placed in the bow consists of three main parts: point, shaft, and fletching. Almost only the points of ancient arrows have been found, as these were often made of durable material. For stable flight, the point must be weighted to bring the center of gravity forward, and for use as a weapon, the point must be sharp and hard. A compromise had always to be found for shape and size between the aerodynamic properties of the point and the need to fatally hit or seriously wound the target. In prehistoric times, arrowheads were made of flint or obsidian. Both have the advantage of easily forming sharp edges: flint was chipped off into sharp shards with a pointed tool, while obsidian naturally has sharp edges due to its crystal latticework. Bone shards or plant thorns were also used, or the arrow shaft was simply sharpened. In later times, bronze and iron were used; metals could be shaped more precisely through forging and casting than stone, and were easier to produce in large quantities. For greater impact, the arrowhead was sometimes dipped in arrow poison or barbed.
Native Americans are the original inhabitants of the Americas. Columbus, who in 1492 believed he had reached the Indies (his intention was to travel westward across the Atlantic Ocean and thus reach the Indies), called the inhabitants indios—Indians. Because the term "Indian" is derived from a Western perspective, several alternative names have come into use. In the United States, the American government and academics introduced the term Native American (Dutch: eigen Amerikaan) in the 1960s for the groups under the responsibility of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. An additional reason was confusion with people of Indian descent, who are also called Indians in English. However, this new terminology was not universally accepted because it was adopted without consultation with those involved and because it conflated Native Americans with the original inhabitants of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Pacific Islands. A 2005 survey by the US Census Bureau found that nearly 50% of Native Americans prefer to be called "American Indians," while just over 37% prefer "Native American." Both terms are now used. It is noteworthy that the Bureau of Indian Affairs now uses the term American Indian instead of Native American. The term First Nations/Premières Nations is used in Canada. In Latin America, Native Americans are officially called indígenas (indigenous people). In the scientific world, they are also sometimes referred to as Amerindians or Amerindians. Incidentally, the Eskimos (sometimes called Inuit, although that term does not strictly refer to the Yupik in Alaska) are often (in politics and academia) not considered Native Americans, but are considered "Native Americans." In both Canada and the US, emancipation regarding ethnic naming is increasingly a matter for Indigenous communities themselves, who are becoming increasingly (self-)aware in cultural and political terms. For example, Indigenous peoples officially recognized by the US and Canadian governments, who consider themselves a full-fledged political and cultural state, are increasingly expressing their wish to no longer be called tribes (as in the US) or bands (as in Canada), but rather Nations (nations or states). Furthermore, the names introduced by Europeans (or surrounding Indigenous peoples) in the past are increasingly being replaced by the names peoples gave themselves. For example, instead of Iroquois, people now more often speak of Haudenosaunee. Other name changes include Lakota (Dakota/Nakota) for Sioux, Mexicah for Aztecs, Ñudzahui for Mixtecs, and Mapuche for Araucanians. "Indian" is not capitalized in Dutch because it refers not to a single people but to several ethnic groups (just like Gypsies). King William I, in several of his Royal Decrees, referred to his subjects in the Dutch East Indies as "Indians." However, "Native" became the common term. At the time of Columbus's arrival, North America was divided into several cultural regions. The best known are those of the far north (Arctic region) and those of the prairies in the Midwest, the Great Plains. On the Plains, most people lived along the rivers and were farmers. Farmers also lived in the east and southwest of North America. The main crops were corn, beans, and pumpkins, originally from Mexico. Cotton was also grown in the southwest, and sunflowers, among other crops, were grown in the east. Tobacco was planted in almost the entire present-day United States and southern Canada. The stereotypical image of "the Indian" is based on the Prairie peoples of the nineteenth century. This isn't to say that bison and other animals weren't hunted before Columbus (without horses!). Especially in the northern part of the Great Plains, there were many so-called "Buffalo Jumps." Here, bison were driven into a ravine, where they fell to their deaths. A museum at the Buffalo Jump Head-Smashed-In in Alberta, Canada, demonstrates how this was done.
