10 Native American Inventions The Modern World Couldn’t Live Without

True Origins

There are so many inventions that we use every day and we never stop to think of their origins. That paracetamol you just popped for your migraine. Or some chewing gum you throw in your mouth minutes before a big interview.

Yeah, those were actually invented by Native American peoples. But it doesn’t just stop at painkillers and bad-breath elimination.

There are so many more pretty important and useful everyday things that were invented in the New World, long before Columbus ever set sail on the ocean blue.

Maple Syrup

Whether you Drizzle it over your waffles or naughtily squirt it in your mouth straight from the tube, maple syrup is the epitome of breakfast food. Waffles? Bacon? Oatmeal?

They all wouldn’t be the same without the golden goodness that is maple syrup! But did you know Native American groups living in the northeast of the continent were the first to have known how to make maple sugar and syrup?

This was way before the Europeans colonization!

Parkas

Picture this. The snow is falling, you’ve got your Christmas playlist playing in your earphones and you go to grab your parka. You know them; the ultra snug and ultra-fashionable coat we all throw on when the temperature drops.

But did you know the invention of the parka back in the day ensured survival in the Arctic? The traditional parka was either made of sealskin or caribou hide. Not so fashionable were they?

Avocados

Long before you saw them all over your Instagram feed spread on some wholemeal toast with the caption, “love, life, laugh,” native farmers in the valley of Mexico had domesticated the one and only, the avocado.

Ultimately, Guacamole came a bit later, in the 16th Century. We have the Aztec peoples to thank for that! But who’d have thought the Native Americans in 3400 B.C, would have predicted such a major Instagram trend?

Sun Screen

Imagine this: the sun is shining, you’ve got your favorite cocktail on stand by, and you feel your body get warmer and warmer. It’s kind of a nice feeling but you know you should be responsible. So what do you need? Sunscreen that’s what.

But did you know that sunscreen can be traced back to the Native Americans? In fact, tribes in the northeast of the continent used sunflower oil for protection while others used the western wallflower mixed with some water.

You can thank the Native Americans for your glow then.