Book excerpt: Long before the Pilgrims set foot on Plymouth Rock, even before Christopher Columbus discovered America, the land we call North America was already the home of millions of people. Comprised of numerous different tribes, the descendants of these earliest American settlers live throughout the United States today. The cultures of the tribes are as different as the people themselves. As we move through the 21st century, large parts of these cultures—including entire languages—are at risk of being lost forever. Only by preserving them today can we ensure that these customs and traditions will remain alive for future Native American generations and other Americans alike.