List of indigenous people of the Americas
This is a list of notable indigenous peoples of the Americas. This list includes Inuit people, Yupik peoples, Aleut people, Alaskan Natives, Native Americans, First Nations, Métis, Indigenous Mexicans, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Indigenous identity is a complex and contested issue and differs from country to country in the Americas. Inclusion to this list is based on legal membership to an indigenous community, when applicable, or recognition by the relevant indigenous community/communities of the individual as a member of that community.
North America
Canada
Generally referred to as Aboriginal peoples in Canada when looking at the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples collectively.
Greenland
Mexico
This issue is complicated because a great majority of Mexicans are mestizos and therefore being part Native is not unusual as in Canada or the US. The list only include indigenous proper and mestizos with an indigenous parent. This list also includes a few Pre-Columbian figures considered remarkable in the history and culture of Mexico.
- Ignacio Manuel Altamirano, writer, journalist and politician (Nahua)
- Juana Belén Gutiérrez de Mendoza, anarchist, feminist activist, typographer, journalist and poet (Caxcan)
- Cuauhtémoc, last (Aztec) Tlatoani
- Cuitláhuac, penultimate (Aztec) Tlatoani
- Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, Catholic Saint (Chichimeca)
- Porfirio Díaz, President (Mixtec mother)
- Lila Downs, singer (Mixtec mother)
- Emilio Fernández, film director, actor (Kickapoo mother)
- Victoriano Huerta, President (Huichol mother)
- Benito Juárez, President (Zapotec)
- La Malinche, translator of conquistador Hernán Cortés
- Moctezuma II, (Aztec) Tlatoani at the beginning of the Spanish Conquest of Mexico
- Nezahualcóyotl, Tlatoani of Texcoco and poet in Nahuatl language
- Comandante Ramona, EZLN leader (Tzotzil)
- María Sabina, shaman (Mazatec)
- Comandante Tacho, EZLN leader (Tojolabal)
United States
Central America
The Caribbean
- Agüeybaná (The Great Sun) - "supreme cacique" in Puerto Rico
- Agüeybaná II - Cacique in Puerto Rico
- Arasibo - Cacique in Puerto Rico
- Hatuey (Taíno)
- Hayuya - Cacique in Puerto Rico
- Jumacao - Cacique in Puerto Rico
- Anacaona - Cacique in Hispaniola (Taíno)
- Caonabo - Cacique in Hispaniola (Carib)
- Guacanagaric - Cacique in Hispaniola (Taíno)
- Guarionex - Cacique in Hispaniola (Taíno)
- Cotubanama - Cacique in Hispaniola (Taíno)
- Enriquillo - Cacique in Hispaniola (Taíno)
Guatemala
- Miguel Ángel Asturias, novelist, Nobel prize winner in literature
- Rigoberta Menchú Tum, activist, Nobel prize winner in peace (Quiché)
Nicaragua
- Myrna Cunningham, Miskita physician, feminist and indigenous rights activist
South America
Bolivia
- Roberto Mamani Mamani (b. 1962), Aymara painter
- Alejandro Mario Yllanes (1913–1960), Aymara painter and printmaker
- Evo Morales, Aymara politician, president of Bolivia
- Bienvenido Zacu Mborobainchi, b. 1956, Guarayo politician
Chile
- Ainavillo (16th-century), Mapuche toqui
- Butapichón (17th-century), Mapuche toqui
- Cadeguala (16th-century), Mapuche toqui
- Calfucurá (late 1770s–1873), Mapuche military leader from Patagonia
- Caupolicán (died 1558), Mapuche toqui
- Santos Chávez (1934–2001), Mapuche printmaker
- Elicura Chihuailaf (born 1952), Mapuche poet
Colombia
- Quintín Lame (1880–1967), Paez political leader and author
Ecuador
- Camilo Egas, Mestizo, painter and educator, 1889–1962
- Eugenio Espejo, Mestizo journalist, hygienist, lawyer, and satirical writer, 1747–1795
- Oswaldo Guayasamín, Quechua painter and sculptor, 1919–1999
- Eduardo Kingman, Mestizo painter, 1913–1998
- Luis Macas, Quechua anthropologist and politician, born 1951
- Mincaye, Hauo preacher and church elder, born 1935
- Nina Pacari, Kichwa politician, lawyer and indigenous leader from Cotacachi, born 1961
- Antonio Vargas, Quechua politician
Peru
- Tupac Amaru, military figure and last Inca
- Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, writer
- Yma Sumac, Singer of self-identified Inca ancestry
- Alejandro Toledo, President
- Marcos Zapata (c. 1710–1773), Quechua Cuzco School painter