Curtis Jerry Smothers
Teacher . Editor . Poet . Writing Coach . Historian . Online Tutor

American history began long before the United States. Across the continent, Native peoples built communities, cultivated the land, established trade networks, and developed diverse cultures and systems of government.
 

These nine articles explore that rich history—from ancient mound builders and early encounters with Europeans to forced removal, resistance, military service, and modern tribal sovereignty. Together, they tell a story not only of injustice and loss, but of leadership, endurance, and renewal. Native Americans are not simply figures from our past; their nations and communities remain an essential part of America’s present and future.