The First Americans: Native
Americans
Northwest Indians
• The Northwest Indians
Culture was in what is
today the states of
Washington, Oregon,
and northern
California.
• They lived in log
homes that were made
from cedar trees.
The Northwestern Indians
fished and hunted whales
from canoes. They used
every part of the salmon and
whale.They ate the fish,
whale, and gathered berries
and nuts to survive.
The Indians put a totem pole
outside of each home. The totem
pole told a story of the history of
the family. Families also have a
potlatch to show wealth and
importance.
Southwest Indians
• The Southwest Indians
lived in dry desert area of
the southwestern US.
• They lived in stone or
adobe, dried clay, houses.
The Anasazi Indians built
their homes into the side
of the mesas. They were
called cliff dwellers.
Because they lived in the
desert, the Southwestern
Indians had to work hard to
grow crops and preserve
water. They grew corn,
beans, and squash, The
Three Sisters. They also
tamed wild turkeys.
The Three Sisters
Plains Indians
• The Plains Indians
lived in the area of our
country known as the
Great Plains.
• This culture group is
known for the
importance of the
buffalo, the use of the
tepee, and their war
path customs.
The buffalo was the most
important natural resource of the
Plains Indians. It provided them
with all their basic needs: food,
clothing, and shelter.
The Plains Indians lived in
tepees so that they could
easily follow the migration of
the buffalo.
Powwows and Sun Dances
were ceremonies of the
Plains Indians.
Eastern Woodland Indians
• The Eastern Woodland
Indians lived the forest
in the eastern portion
of the US.
• Their food, shelter,
clothing, weapons, and
tools came from the
forest around them.
The Iroquois Indians
They lived in longhouses and
wigwams.
Wigwam
They found their food by hunting,
fishing, and gathering berries, fruits,
and nuts.
They used the pelts of animals for
their clothing.
Longhouse
The Cherokee Indians
They lived in homes made from
wattle and daub (twigs and
mud).
They hunted small game and
were farmers.
They wore cloths made from
plants and breech cloth.
Cherokee
Indian
decorated
with
feathers and
paint
The Mound Builders
They were Indians who built large mounds or hills.
These mounds were built entirely by workers.
The Mound Builders were like the Pueblo Indians.
Mound Builders were not their name, just a name
given to them because of the type of community
they lived in.
Indian Culture Areas