Cultural Background North American Indians American Indians were said to be named by Columbus who mistook the American Continent he first set foot on for India and called the inhabitants Indians. Indians migrated from Asia across the then-existing land bridge to what is now Alaska from 12,000 to 35,000 years ago.They are the original Americans and have been living a tribal life.Some Indians are sedentary. Many other Indians are nomadic and hunt for their food. They frequently emphasize bravery in war as the essence of manhood.Indians have no one religion any more than they have one way of life.But certain religious beliefs are widespread.Most important is the belief in a mysterious,magic force in nature Cultural Background North American Indians American Indians were said to be named by Columbus who mistook the American Continent he first set foot on for India and called the inhabitants Indians. Indians migrated from Asia across the then-existing land bridge to what is now Alaska from 12,000 to 35,000 years ago. They are the original Americans and have been living a tribal life. Some Indians are sedentary. Many other Indians are nomadic and hunt for their food. They frequently emphasize bravery in war as the essence of manhood. Indians have no one religion any more than they have one way of life. But certain religious beliefs are widespread. Most important is the belief in a mysterious, magic force in nature