Northwest Coast Region
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Cold winters, cool summers
heavy rainfall
thick fur
spruce and cedar forests
Enjoyed seafood from the Pacific Ocean
Built wooden houses with planked sides and gabled roofs.
Had painted and carved tree trunks called totem poles. These poles honored
their many gods and spirits.
Each village was ruled by a few rich families. Wealth was measured by
possessions such as canoes, blankets and slaves.
California Region
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Winter rains, hot dry summers
coastal foothills, valleys, deserts, mountains
oak trees with acorns
– Great Basin Area
– desert, low grasses, sagebrush
– small animals, such as rabbit and lizards
Houses were thatched or made of earth
Hunted, fished, and collected wild plants, seeds and nuts.
Acorns were ground to make flour and mush.
Life was more difficult for those living away from the coast in the Great Basin
area.
Plateau Region
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Cold winters, gentle summers
large rivers
abundant fish
Southwest Region
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Canyons, mountains, desert, mesas
dry, hot climate
Colorado River and Rio Grande
Huge dry region
In the north are steep canyons
South is flat, desert country.
Early southwest Indians built cliff houses. Cliff dwellers built on the sides of
cliffs to protect themselves from enemies.
Later had many-storied houses made of adobe. People entered by climbing
ladders to the roof. Ladders could then be taken up to keep enemies out.
Great Plains Region
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Treeless grassland
dense grasses
more water and softer soil in eastern part of the region.
Before the arrival of Spanish explorers in the 1500’s few lived in this region.
Women grew crops of beans, corn, squash, and tobacco.
During the summer, men hunted deer, elk, and sometimes buffalo. Buffalo
were difficult to hunt on foot. Natives tried to stampede herds over cliffs.
Explorers came with both guns and horses. When they returned to Spain,
they left their horses behind. Made hunting much easier.
Other nearby tribes forced west by White settlers came and adopted the
plains way-of- life. Apache, Arapaho, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Comanche, and
Sioux were some of those moving to the plains.
Communication was difficult so they developed a system of sign language.
Eastern Woodland Region
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Snowy winters, rainy summers
thick forests
many lakes
Iroquois tribes controlled the Northeast area.
The Iroquois League was the most powerful group. Had Iroquois Great Law
of Peace.
Enjoyed good fishing and hunted.
Houses were domed-shaped wigwams covered with bark. Some were long. A
number of related families would live together in the long houses.
Among first Natives to meet Europeans
Southeast Region
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Warm, humid summers, mild winters
coastal plains, river valleys
mountains, swamps
Lived in thatched huts called chickees which had raised floors and open
sides.
Many groups were warlike. Before battle they painted themselves and held
ceremonies worshipping their many gods.
In peace celebrations the peace pipe was smoked.
Far North Region
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Cold climate
Few lived in this region
Short growing season made food scarce.
Fished, hunted caribou, moose, and deer.