Native Americans

"Native American" was a term used to denote a member of any of the indigenous peoples of North America, South America, and the Caribbean. The term was most commonly applied to members of the indigenous peoples of North America.

Early history
The existence of North America was known to witches and wizards long before European explorers came across the continent. Methods of magical travel such as brooms and Apparation allowed distant magical communities to maintain contact with each other from the Middle Ages onwards. Thus, before European colonists settled in North America in the 16th century, the magical communities of Africa and Europe were in contact with the Native American magical community.

Native American witches and wizards practiced wandless magic. They were especially skilled when it came to animal and plant magic, and their potion-making knowledge was far more advanced than that of Europe. Sometimes, Native American witches and wizards were accepted members of their respective tribes, even attaining positions of prominence and respect as medicine men or skilled hunters. However, others faced ostracisation within their tribes, typically under the belief they were possessed by evil spirits.

The legend of the skin-walker – an evil witch or wizard capable of changing into an animal – arose from Native American Animagi. To prevent themselves from being outed, No-Maj medicine men who were faking magical powers sometimes circulated malicious rumours about Animagi, and thus the false belief that people gained the ability to transform into an animal by sacrificing their own kin became widespread among Native Americans. In reality, however, most Native American Animagi used their powers to avoid persecution or hunt for their tribe.

The magic of local Native American tribes played an important role in the construction of Ilvermorny, the North American school of magic.

20th century
Harry Potter, looking at a photo of the Dumbledore family in 1997, was reminded of Native Americans by Kendra Dumbledore because of her facial features.

Appearances

 * Pottermore
 * Pottermore